Kostunica wants to join EU

Strasbourg - Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica used a debut appearance at the European Parliament yesterday to press Yugoslavia…

Strasbourg - Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica used a debut appearance at the European Parliament yesterday to press Yugoslavia's case for joining the EU, but he said it first needed support to rebuild its shattered economy. "The major goal in Yugoslavia's foreign policy is to approach in a comprehensive manner a family of nations comprising the EU and then join it," he told the 626-member assembly in Strasbourg.

Mr Kostunica, who swept to power six weeks ago after ousting Mr Slobodan Milosevic, indicted for alleged war crimes, has been steadily rebuilding his country's severed links with the outside world.

His comments were echoed by the President of the European Parliament, Ms Nicole Fontaine, who also forecast eventual Yugoslav EU membership. "I am sure that in the future, if Yugoslavia wishes, the doors of the EU will be open . . . It's only natural. We are all in Europe and we share the same values," she said.