Vienna, November 18 (MIA) - Aside from Montenegro and Kosovo the rest of the Western Balkan countries are pessimistic in regard to the future development and possible EU membership, results of Gallup Balkan Monitor poll showed.

Pessimism was mostly widespread in Croatia for country's future and EU membership. There were more Croats who believed that membership in the EU was good for the country (29%), than those who judged it to be bad, (26%). However, with the accession date getting closer, the relative majority (38%) were not taking sides (saying it was neither good nor bad).

61% of the Croats expected that economy in the country would worsen in the following years. Similar opinion is shared in Serbia with 42%, Montenegro 28% and Kosovo only 28%.

In Croatia, a majority actually felt informed about the EU (54%) as opposed to a minority that lacked knowledge (44%). While in Serbia only 57% said that they are insufficiently or not at all informed about the EU.

Respondents were divided about whether the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (the ICTY) played a positive or negative role in the Western Balkans.

In Albania (69%) and Kosovo (68%), approximately seven out of 10 respondents thought that the tribunal was helping reconciliation and strengthening peace. In Croatia (53%) and in Serbia (64%), a majority of respondents thought that the ICTY did not serve the interest of the region and was simply fuelling past conflicts. sk/fd/11:24

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