PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES HAIL PM'S DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS

ZAGREB, Jan 30(Hina) - Parliamentary committees on foreign affairs and European integration on Friday unanimously applauded Prime Minister Ivo Sanader's diplomatic activities aimed at EU rapprochement, and called on the government to continue meeting the criteria required by that process, parliament said in a press release.#L# The two committees held a joint session today to consider Croatia's road to the European Union and NATO. The committees applauded and supported the diplomatic and other activities Sanader's government had undertaken so far in order to expedite the process of winning the European Commission's approval of Croatia's EU membership application and being granted EU candidate status. The committees called on the government to continue the existing and plan new activities aimed at meeting the political, economic, legal and institutional criteria necessary for admission to the EU and NATO. The committees also urged the government to brief them on Croatia's negotiations with the European Commission in connection with agricultural and food products. Opening speeches were delivered by European Integration Minister Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and the state secretary at the Foreign Ministry, Hidajet Biscevic. The two committees also adopted reports on government activities aimed at EU and NATO entry which were submitted by members of the government. (Hina) ha sb