EXPECTED DATE OF AVIS APRIL 20 - FOREIGN MINISTER

ZAGREB, April 14 (Hina) - The European Commission is expected to issue its opinion on Croatia's EU membership application (the so-called avis) on April 20, Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul said on Wednesday after a meeting with Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and Croatian ambassadors accredited to EU member and candidate states.#L# "The expected date is April 20, but it does not necessarily have to be that exact date," said Zuzul, adding that Croatia expected the European Commission to forward its "recommendation to the European Council so that the decision on Croatia's status can be made". Zuzul said that during the meeting with the ambassadors, opinions were exchanged and a strategy on future steps agreed on. "We firmly believe that (Croatia's application) will be discussed on June 17 or 18, based on that recommendation," Zuzul said. He added that a conditional or an unconditional avis did not exist in the official terminology, but that Croatia could draw conclusions based on the recommendations given previously to other countries. The minister said diplomacy would be very important in the coming period, notably regarding communication with the European Commission about the dates of the avis and Croatia's status. Zuzul said Croatia's diplomacy was ready to make important steps in "this historical period ahead of us". He added, however, that even though diplomacy was important, the most important thing for a positive outcome were Croatia's internal affairs. (Hina) it sb