CROATIAN GOVT. WELCOMES EC REPORT ON SAP IN S-E EUROPE

ZAGREB, April 3 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday issued a statement welcoming the European Commission's second annual report on the Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) in South- East Europe. With regard to strategic goals, the report is more favourable for Croatia than last year and it supports the country's recent application for EU membership, Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Simonovic said. The report points to some unresolved issues in a constructive manner so the comments and proposals can be considered as guidelines for future activities in the reform process. Once the report is analysed and competent bodies submit proposals, the government will consider amending the plan for the implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Simonovic said that the report contained some ambiguities and factual mistakes, of which the European Commission would be warned, but he did not state what the mistakes were about. Apart from the report, the government also adopted a statement conveying its satisfaction with the positive assessment of Croatia's progress in the implementation of reforms aimed at fulfilling conditions for EU membership. The government hopes that the EU Council will take into account the good marks Croatia has been given when instructing the European Commission to start drawing up its opinion on the country's application. The parliament will be forwarded a report on the course of the SAP as well. (hina) rml sb