FRANCE APPRECIATES CROATIAN GOVT'S RESULTS, EFFORTS - BARNIER

ZAGREB, April 15 (Hina) - France appreciates all the results the Croatian government has achieved and the efforts it is investing to meet the criteria, and encourages it to continue in this vein, which is a guarantee of success and entering the European Union, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said during talks with his Croatian counterpart Miomir Zuzul in Paris on Thursday, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.#L# The two ministers discussed current affairs in light of the impending issuing of the European Commission's opinion on Croatia as a country which in two months' time might be granted EU candidate status, the release said. Today's meeting confirmed that Croatia and France are friends and partners, while Barnier, as a former European commissioner, said he recognised Croatia's efforts and therefore fully supported its EU membership, the press release said. It quoted Barnier as telling Zuzul that France recognised a wider regional and European interest in the Croatian government's policy. Barnier added that Croatia could count on France's help and support in the drafting of an opinion by the European Commission and the adoption of a decision by the European Council on granting Croatia candidate status in June. The meeting confirmed the willingness of the two countries to develop partner relations in all fields, including the economy, the fight against international terrorism, and international efforts to stabilise Southeast Europe, the press release said. Zuzul invited his French counterpart to visit Croatia, which Barnier accepted. After the meeting at the French Foreign Ministry, Zuzul and his associates held talks at the Paris Rothschild Bank and attended a lunch at the Senate given in Zuzul's honour by the chairman of the Senate French-Croatian Friendship Group, Alain Gerard, the press release concluded. (Hina) ha sb