FINNISH GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDS RATIFICATION OF CROATIA'S SAA

HELSINKI, Oct 22 (Hina) - The Finnish government on Thursday adopted and forwarded to parliament a recommendation that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between Croatia and the EU be ratified as soon as possible, sources close to a Croatian state delegation visiting Finland told reporters after talks between President Stjepan Mesic and the new Finnish premier, Matti Van Hanen. #L# The recommendation will be officially forwarded to parliament on Friday. According to a previous statement by Finnish President Tarja Halonen, the parliament should decide about the recommendation in the next few months. Finland is one of the five countries, including Great Britain, the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium, which have not ratified the SAA. At talks with President Mesic, Premier Van Hanen expressed support to Croatia's candidacy for membership in the EU. He praised Mesic's peace-making activities in the region, and expressed interest in strengthening economic relations. The two officials agreed for business delegations from the two countries to exchange visits soon. Mesic on Wednesday paid a day-long visit to Finland, during which Finnish officials expressed support for Croatia's bids to join the EU. Finland supports and encourages Croatia's efforts to join the EU, said Halonen after talks with Mesic this morning. She added that Finland would do all to help Croatia on that road. The two presidents also discussed regional cooperation in South- East Europe and Scandinavia. Halonen said she highly appreciated Mesic's efforts aimed at democratisation and reconciliation in the region, while Mesic said that cooperation among Baltic countries should serve as a model for cooperation among South-East European countries. After the talks, Mesic said that one could expect a speedier development of overall relations with Finland. He invited Halonen to visit Croatia, which she accepted gladly. Halonen was elected president in January 2000, as the first woman at the helm of the country since Finland gained independence in 1917. She is the third Social Democrat in a row to be elected president and enjoys great public support. According to a recent Gallup survey, she is supported by as much as 90 percent of citizens. During the day, President Mesic met Parliament President Paavo Liponnen, who presented him with a silver key to the Finnish parliament. Mesic also visited the main offices of the Nokia telecommunication company where senior company officials acquainted him with the operation of the world's leading producer of mobile phones. In the evening, Mesic left Helsinki for Stockholm, where he is due to meet state officials and business people on Thursday and Friday. (hina) rml