FOREIGN MINISTER PICULA ADDRESSES BARI CONFERENCE

BARI, May 13 (Hina) - Croatia hopes that countries of the European Union will help the project of construction of an Adriatic-Ionian highway, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in a speech at a ministerial meeting of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative in Bari on Tuesday. #L# Addressing the foreign ministers of Italy, Albania, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Greece, Serbia-Montenegro and Slovenia, Picula spoke about the importance of advancing economic and other relations in the region, which he said required the building of new roads, including the Adriatic-Ionian highway. "Croatia is the country that has promoted the Adriatic-Ionian highway so far, but we hope that the European Union would join in, as Europe cannot only establish political ties, but must also develop transport routes and promote other relations," Picula said. After today's meeting Italy's presidency of the Initiative ends, but on July 1 Italy takes over the chairmanship of the EU and it is in Croatia's interest to adjust its laws to the EU legislation in that period, thus making another step towards integration into Europe, Picula said. The presidency of the Initiative is to be taken over by Slovenia, which in May 2004 becomes a full EU member. Croatia is surrounded by countries which head European organisations, which will encourage Zagreb even more to continue meeting integration criteria, Picula said. (hina) rml