CROATIAN MINISTER WRAPS UP VISIT TO DENMARK

ZAGREB, Feb 7 (Hina) - Croatian European Integration Minister Neven Mimica paid a two-day official visit to Denmark on Thursday and Friday as part of a tour of Croatian officials with the aim of informing EU countries of Croatia's intention to submit a request for full membership of the European Union, the European Integration Ministry said in a statement. #L# Minister Mimica met with Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller, the foreign ministry's state-secretary Carstern Sondergaard and political director Zilmer Johnson, and the presidents and members of the parliamentary committees for the European Union and foreign affairs. Mimica presented Croatia's intention to officially submit its EU membership application on the occasion of the forthcoming meeting of Premier Ivica Racan with his Greek counterpart Simitis in Athens. He explained that decision by Croatia to apply for the membership was based on the successful first year of the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, political consensus attained in the country (The Croatian parliament's Resolution) and a high level of public support for Croatia's accession to the EU. According to the statement, Moller praised Croatia's approach emphasising that Denmark would continue to promote the "regatta approach" as it has until now which is based on the significance of filling criteria for membership while at the same time ensuring that each country can individually progress in the process. Expressing support for Croatia's candidacy the chief of Denmark's diplomacy informed Minister Mimica of a new programme of technical and financial support from the Danish government to countries in the region. He expressed his belief that Croatia would certainly in the future be a member of the EU. (hina) sp ms