Senator Fauchon paid a working visit to the Croatian parliament where he was received by Petar Selem, the chairman of the parliamentary education, science and culture committee and the head of the Croatian-French friendship group, as well as by Neven Mimica and Milorad Pupovac, the chairmen of the European integration and inter-parliamentary cooperation committees respectively.
"At the moment when Croatia would like to enter the family of European states I say that 'you are in your home, and I will not miss a chance to say the same to European politicians'" the French senator said.
The French Ambassador to Croatia, Francois Sain-Paul, who attended the meetings, agreed that Croatia belonged to Europe.
Fauchon said that he was one of those who knew that Croatia had been for centuries a fortress defending the entire western Europe and that's why one should say that Croatia had always been a part of Europe.
Selem spoke about deep closeness and friendship between the two peoples and two countries, adding that culture was an important factor in bilateral relations.
Selem told the French guest that joining European integration processes was Croatia's priority and that Zagreb highly appreciated the support and help France was giving it on this path.
Mimica said that it was now the time for the historical ties between Croatia and Europe to turn into institutionalised relations between Croatia and the European Union.
"Croatia is now ready for the start of (EU membership) negotiations... and we expect that by June Croatia will present enough evidence of its full cooperation with the Hague-based tribunal, so that the negotiations can start," Mimica added.
Pupovac said that Croatia would like to be relieved of the war burden and problems of cooperation with the Hague UN war crimes tribunal as soon as possible so that the country would have strong national judiciary and completely solve refugees' problems, fields in which significant results have already been made, he added.
Commenting on the position of ethnic minorities, Pupovac said that they were now perceived as elements of cooperation between countries and a motive for strengthening of democratic institutions and the rule of law.