MINISTER: EUROPEAN COMMISSION'S REPORT POSITIVE FOR CROATIA

ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - The latest report by the European Commission on Croatia positively assesses the country's progress achieved in fulfilling obligations under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), and in mid-April the Council of Ministers will entrust the Commission with drawing up an official opinion on Croatia's candidature (the so-called avis), Croatian European Integration Minister, Neven Mimica, said on Friday. #L# "A general assessment is that the document is positive for Croatia," the minister said at a news briefing. He said the European Union Council of Ministers should give the mandate to the Commission to elaborate the document called avis on April 15. It is realistic to expect that the Commission will need about a year to draw up the avis, Mimica said. According to Mimica, the most positive assessment was given to Croatia's efforts regarding regional cooperation, although the report includes a sentence saying that the Croatian political class has not yet shown readiness for full economic and political cooperation. This remark, however, cannot be accepted by Zagreb, the minister added. As regards shortcomings and omissions, the Commission has identified them very well and they are known from before, Mimica said adding that this referred to the situation in the judiciary, cooperation with the UN war crimes tribunal (ICTY) and the return of refugees. Concerning the ICTY, it should be known that the Commission relies exclusively on statements by the ICTY's prosecution, the minister said. The European integration ministry will in two weeks' time present an operational plan for removing shortcomings and a list of obligations for all Croatian ministries. Removing problems in the judiciary requires efficient measures, the so-called fast track, he added. The Croatian government is likely to give its opinion on the latest report of the European Commission next Thursday. (hina) ms sb