PRODI TALKS WITH CROATIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS

ZAGREB, July 10 (Hina) - European Commission President Romano Prodi held separate talks in the Croatian parliament on Thursday with the leaders of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), and the Democratic Centre (DC). #L# The three parties' presidents said after the talks they were pleased the EC chief had decided for the first time to meet with the opposition. This is an encouraging fact showing there is a good chance the EC will give a positive opinion on Croatia's application for European Union membership after the parliamentary election, said HDZ's Ivo Sanader. Prodi was interested in the opposition's stand on priorities in integration processes -- cooperation with The Hague war crimes tribunal, the return of Serb refugees, and the reform of the justice system, Sanader said. He added the HDZ had stressed its firm commitment regarding all three issues. HSLS president Drazen Budisa welcomed Prodi's statement that the question was not if but when Croatia would enter the EU. This is a foreign policy priority of the incumbent and all future Croatian governments, said Budisa. According to Mate Granic of the DC, Prodi's announcement that the EC will not meddle in elections in Croatia is crucial. Budisa, too, said he was satisfied the EU would not interfere with parliamentary polls in Croatia in any way. (hina) ha sb