U.S. Conditionally Backs Croatian Bid To Join EU

4 October 2005 -- The State Department reaffirmed today its conditional support for Croatia's integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.

Spokesman Sean McCormack praised the insistence of the EU that Croatia fully cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia before beginning accession negotiations.

He noted that the tribunal is insisting on the arrest of Ante Gotovina and transfer to its custody. He is a former Croatian general wanted for wartime atrocities against the Serbs.

(AP)