MINISTER SAYS ONE CAN ONLY GUESS DATE OF CROATIA'S ENTRY INTO EU

PORTO CARRAS, June 21 (Hina) - Croatia must focus on implementing reforms required for membership in the European Union, and one can only speculate about the year of entry, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said on Saturday. #L# "It is much more important that Croatia does everything to complete the reform process. Only one uncertainty remains, which is the date of entry, about which we can only speculate," Picula said at a news conference when asked to comment on a recent statement by Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis that Croatia could conclude negotiations on full membership in 2008 or 2009. "Premier Simitis's statement is very important since he is the first European politician of this calibre who mentioned a specific date. That statement should encourage us," Picula said. The Croatian government has committed itself to fulfilling all conditions for membership in the EU by the end of 2006 so it could join Rumania and Bulgaria in the next wave of enlargement announced for 2007. Spokeswoman for Chris Patten, European Commissioner in charge of External Relations, Emma Udwin, said the EU did not want to speak about dates. The Union does not want to talk about dates because the pace at which countries will draw closer to membership depends on the pace of implementation of reforms, she said. Udwin confirmed that every country would be evaluated on the basis of individual achievements. If Croatia meets the required standards it will not have to wait for anybody, she stressed. Udwin indirectly said the year 2007 was an unrealistic time for Croatia to access the EU. Look at how much time was necessary for other countries, which are now joining the EU, to complete the difficult process of adjusting their legislation and carrying out all the necessary preparations, they needed four years for that, Udwin said. It is not impossible to do this quicker, but do your mathematics yourselves, she added. (hina) lml sb