Clinton visits Croatia, set to become newest EU member

ZAGREB (AFP) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held up Croatia as a model of democracy in the Balkans during a visit Wednesday that comes just eight months before it joins the European Union.

“Nations around the world today are making the difficult transition to democracy, and they can look to you, they can look to Croatia, as a model,” said Clinton after meeting the country‘s top officials.

Clinton, who has come to Croatia on the third day of her five-nation Balkan tour, met first with the country’s Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic, before talks with President Ivo Josipovic.

The talks were focused on Croatia’s future membership in the European Union, its role in NATO and strengthening economic cooperation between Zagreb and Washington.

“The United States is very proud to have the opportunity to work with Croatia in NATO, and we are looking forward to Croatia’s joining the EU next year,” Clinton said.

Croatia joined NATO in 2009, and its troops have been serving with NATO military missions.

In December 2011, Croatia signed an EU accession treaty which was approved in a popular referendum a month later.

Before Croatia formally joins the EU, which is set for July 1, 2013, the accession treaty has to be ratified by all 27 member states. So far that has been done by five countries -- Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Italy and Malta.

Croatian leaders have made EU entry the country’s strategic goal since it proclaimed independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991, a move that triggered a four-year war with rebel Serbs.

“I am completely sure that on July 1 we will wake up in the EU and that Croatia will be a successful member,” Josipovic said.

He urged Croatia’s neighbors to step up their efforts to join the 27-member bloc as it would be “important for the sake of peace, security and the economy” of the region.

Of the six former Yugoslav republics -- Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia -- only the last is an EU member, since 2004.

Clinton however warned there was “still work to do” in Croatia, notably in its fight against corruption and organized crime, as well as strengthening the independence of the judiciary.

The fight against corruption has been a key criterion for Zagreb‘s bid to join the EU.

Last November, a trial against Croatia’s former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, indicted for corruption, opened in Zagreb.

Sanader, who led the government from 2003 to 2009, allegedly raked in more than 12 million euros ($15 million) in several corrupt deals, notably by taking 10 million euros in bribes from Hungarian energy giant MOL.

Clinton arrived in Zagreb from Pristina, where she insisted that Kosovo‘s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 was not debatable.

“We will oppose any discussion of territorial changes or reopening Kosovo’s independent status. These matters are not up for discussion,” she said, reiterating Washington’s strong support for Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian authorities.

The disputed status of Kosovo is the main bone of contention still affecting regional ties after the break-up of the communist former Yugoslavia, which collapsed in a series of bloody wars in the 1990s.

Brussels has stressed that progress on resolving Kosovo’s status is a key factor if Serbia, which won EU candidate status in March, is to move forward and open full accession talks.

Kosovo could take a first step towards joining the EU in the first half of

2013 if it makes solid progress in the rule of law, protection of minorities and other political reforms.

On Tuesday in Serbia, Clinton also pushed Belgrade to normalise relations with Kosovo, even without recognising the breakaway territory’s independence.

Clinton will end her five-nations Balkans tour Thursday in Albania.