EU COULD START DISCUSSING CROATIA'S CANDIDACY AS EARLY AS APRIL - PATTEN

ZAGREB, March 13 (Hina) - Croatia made significant progress over the past three years on its path towards integration with the European Union and the process of considering its application for membership may start as early as April, European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Chris Patten said after talks with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic in Zagreb on Wednesday. #L# Particular progress you made in the past years with this government is last month's application to become a member of our family, Patten said in a brief statement to reporters after talks with Mesic. He said he expected that it would be requested of the European Commission to discuss Croatia's application this spring, possibly at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers in April. He said an application for membership was usually being discussed for about a year. He explained that the procedure for Croatia will be conducted exactly the same as were procedures for candidate-countries which will gain membership next year. Today's talks with Croatian officials were held in the shadow of Wednesday's assassination of Serbian Premier Zoran Djindjic, said Patten, who will travel to Belgrade later today to express solidarity with the Serbian government. However, this tragedy has no effect on Croatia's aspirations which the EU hails. According the EU, Croatia's joining the EU will depend on Croatia alone, namely on the fact how fast will Croatia implement its reforms. Europe is aware that there are certain things that must be done, that there are still problems that must be solve, but the EU is Croatia's friend and it wants the county to take an appropriate place in the European family, Patten said. (hina) it