PATTEN RECEIVES CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, BUSINESSMEN

BRUSSELS, Oct 28 (Hina) - European Foreign Affairs Commissioner Chris Patten said in Brussels on Tuesday that the Croatian government did a great job over the past several years and that the European Commission could discuss Croatia's application for EU membership with a lot of enthusiasm. #L# Patten said this after informal talks with Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and the country's leading businessmen who are expected to hold a presentation on Croatia's economy before the European Commission on Wednesday. There are still problems, of course, said Patten, adding that he was certain that those problems could be solved with a firm political action. Minister Picula said that talks with Patten focused on the economy, Croatia's strong point for membership of the EU. The Croatian public knows the political criteria the country has to meet -- cooperation with the Hague tribunal, the return of refugees, the completion of the justice and media reforms, Picula said. "But when Patten and other European Commission members are going decide about Croatia's application, they will have to take into account not only what Croatia did or did not manage to accomplish on the political front, but also the success of Croatia's economy, Picula said. (hina) it