CROATIAN CATHOLIC WEEKLY AND APOSTOLIC NUNCIO COMMENT ON CROATIA-EU RELATIONS

ZAGREB, April 29 (Hina) - The Croatian Catholic weekly Glas Koncila commented in its latest issue on Thursday on the opinion of the European Commission on Croatia's application for membership of the European Union.#L# "The Opinion, which has been assessed in Croatian political circles as 'very positive', marks a historical turn in the attitude of European Union members towards Croatia, particularly those that were sceptical about Croatia. On the other hand, it is a confirmation of the development of values in the Croatian state that originated in stable, old democracies in the European West, Editor-in-Chief Ivan Miklenic wrote in a comment. The article says that the European Commission's positive opinion means that Croatia will no longer be kept in "waiting rooms" "although one should not be naive to think that all political forces in EU member countries are agreed and unanimous in their views and assessments or that the political forces still demonstrating scepticism about Croatia have disappeared from the political scene or completely changed their opinion. "Nor should one be naive to think that followers of those political forces on the Croatian public scene have changed their opinion and that they would start promoting objective Croatian national interests." Also on Thursday, the Apostolic Nuncio to Croatia, Francisco-Javier Lozano, told the Vecernji List daily in an interview that "there is no shortage of politicians in Europe who view the Catholic Croatia as a threat to their own strategies and plans aimed at destroying the family and social institutions built in the foundations of Europe with Christian roots." "Croatia needs Europe, but Europe needs Croatia, too. With Croatia integrated into the European Union and NATO, this entire region will gain in stability. Neighbouring countries will follow its example of development and civilisation," the Nuncio said. (Hina) vm