DUBLIN: CROATIAN, IRISH PARLIAMENTARIANS HOLD TALKS

DUBLIN, Feb 4 (Hina) - A delegation of the Croatian parliament's foreign affairs committee on Tuesday held separate meetings with the Irish parliament's committees on foreign affairs and European issues, which fully supported Croatia's admission to the EU and the impending application for full membership. #L# "There is an undivided support on the Irish side to Croatia's bids in connection with the entry to the EU," Zlatko Tomcic, the head of the Croatian delegation, said after the talks. Ireland urges Croatia to meet the economic and political conditions for membership, in which case Irish support will not be denied, said Tomcic. He stressed there was consensus between the Irish ruling coalition and the opposition as to Croatia's admission to the European Union. He said the talks held with Irish officials so far had been very successful. Ireland supports Croatia's entry to the EU and the impending membership candidacy, the chairman of the Irish parliament's foreign affairs committee, Michael Woods, told Croatian journalists. He said Ireland had been among the first to ratify Croatia's Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU and wished to help Croatia on that path. Ireland advocates cooperation among various states which, when entering the Union, retain their culture and identity, he stressed. Woods recalled that Ireland would begin a six-month presidency of the EU on January 1, 2004. (hina) ha sb