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.
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