CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL

ZAGREB, Feb 27 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Thursday received Ramon De Miguel y Egea, state secretary for European issues at the Spanish foreign ministry, Mesic's office said in a statement. #L# The Spaniard said his country fully supported Croatia's candidacy for European Union membership, stating it reflected not only the wish of the Croatian government, but reality as well. Spain is willing to help Croatia on its road to Europe, he said. The Spanish official said Croatia-Spain relations over the past three years had progressed but that there existed many possibilities for cooperation that had not been taken advantage of, especially in the economy and culture. Mesic and the Spanish representative voiced hoped a peaceful solution would be found to the Iraqi crisis as nobody wanted war. The goal is to disarm Saddam Hussein and not topple the regime, they said. (hina) ha