FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS MACSHANE'S STATEMENT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY

KARLOVAC, April 13 (Hina) - Former Foreign Minister Mate Granic has said that the statements by British Europe Minister Denis MacShane on a possible negative opinion of the European Commission regarding Croatia's EU membership application should be taken very seriously. #L# Granic told Karlovac-based Radio Mreznica on Tuesday that even though Prime Minister Ivo Sanader had done many good things for Croatia's association with the EU, he had underestimated the problem of Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark. "If we get the 'avis' as early as next week, it is equally important that we get a date for the start of negotiations," Granic said, "Maybe we will receive the 'avis' as early as next week, but the candidacy is still under question. The most uncertain thing is the date of the start of negotiations and only when we get the date can we say that we have made progress. Otherwise, we will no longer be able to catch up with Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU in 2007," Granic told the radio. (Hina) it