Chirac Calls on Yugoslavia to Pursue Way of ChangeFrench President Jacques Chirac Thursday called on Yugoslavia to "pursue the way of democracy and change" during a meeting with visiting Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica.Chirac expressed his wish that the legislative elections in Yugoslavia to be held on Saturday will allow the country to go ahead in this direction, French presidential spokeswoman Catherine Colonna said. He also called on Yugoslavia to cooperate with the Hague-based International Tribunal in charge of trying war criminals in former Yugoslav countries, the spokeswoman added. Chirac stressed the importance for Yugoslavia to cooperate with the tribunal "in the eyes of the international community," although he said he understood the "sensitiveness of the question. " The European Union (EU)-Balkans summit held on November 24 in Zagreb, Croatia, issued a declaration, describing such cooperation between Belgrade and the International Tribunal as part of the " obligations" of Yugoslavia. Kostunica was on a one-day visit here on Thursday, during which he also met with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine. |
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