MINISTER POLFER: LUXEMBOURG WANT'S TO BE CROATIA'S RELIABLE PARTNER

LUXEMBOURG, Feb 24 (Hina) - Luxembourg wants to be Croatia's reliable and credible partner on its path to the EU and it is ready to financially assist Croatia, Luxembourg's Foreign Minister Lydie Polfer said after two-hour talks with her Croatian counterpart Miomir Zuzul on Tuesday.#L# After the meeting, the two ministers signed an agreement on a demining project in Croatia worth some EUR143,000. Luxembourg offered financial help in mine removal projects in Croatia in the past as well. Minister Polfer said Luxembourg also financially supported Croatia in training civil servants for the implementation of European standards in Croatia's judiciary. She expressed expectation that the European Commission would announce its opinion on Croatia's ability to enter negotiations on full membership in March. Polfer stressed the importance of cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, which is one of the main conditions for progress in European integration processes. Minister Zuzul said Croatia was ready to meet commitments set by the international community. "I expressed readiness and determination of the Croatian government to continue meeting its international obligations, but we want to be assessed according to our own merits," Zuzul said. The Croatian minister expressed hope Croatia would enter negotiations on full membership with the EU early next year when Luxembourg will take over the chair of the EU. (Hina) it sb