We believe that it is possible to complete the negotiating process in June, Spindelegger said, adding that he would do all in his power to convince his colleagues in Brussels that Croatia deserved it. He recalled that it was Slovakia and Austria that had supported Croatia the most at the beginning of its negotiating process and that they were continuing to do so also at the end of that process.

We want to make it public: We would like to see Croatia become an EU member as soon as possible, Spindelegger said.

Croatia is ready to complete the entry talks in June, said Dzurinda, adding that he would work intensively with his Austrian colleague to help Croatia in the last few meters before the finish line.

Asked what would happen if Croatia did not complete the talks in June, namely if it would be a bad message to Croatia and the rest of the region, Dzurinda said that he did not want to speculate about it and that one should rather make the most of the current momentum.

I see it happening in June, he said, adding that where there was a will, there was a way.

Spindelegger said that Austria not only wanted to see Croatia in the EU, but that it wanted to see it also as a Central European country dealing with Central European issues.

Austria feels that Croatia is part of Europe, of Central Europe, and Austria wants to integrate it into the EU, he said.

The Austrian and Slovak ministers noted also that the EU was not heaven, but that there was no better solution for Austrians, Slovakians or Croats.

They said that their visit to Zagreb was motivated by the wish to show that the EU must overcome its enlargement fatigue.

Asked how much they trusted Croatia's incumbent government, Dzurinda said that he had no doubts whatsoever regarding the credibility of the current government which he said was making huge efforts to fight corruption and meet benchmarks for the closing of the policy area No. 23, Judiciary and Fundamental Rights.

It is not easy for PM (Jadranka) Kosor to clear the public space of corruption... but the government's results are very good. PM Kosor is not ignoring the situation, but making huge efforts, Dzurinda said.

The two ministers also commented on the verdict of the Hague war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) against Croatian generals Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac, noting that the ICTY was not the EU.

The ICTY is an international court, and we, like Croatia, respect the principle of the rule of law. The judiciary is independent and we must respect what it does and what it decides, said Spindelegger.

Jandrokovic thanked Austria and Slovakia for their strong and constant support to Croatia, as well as for the personal contribution of the two ministers, describing their visit as an example of extraordinary support.

Jandrokovic said that with hard work and commitment it was possible to achieve the goal of EU membership, and that this was an important message not only for Croatia, but for the entire region.