EC'S EVALUATION OF NEW GOV'T WILL BE BASED ON ITS ACHIEVEMENTS

ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, Nov 24 (Hina) - Acting in line with its policy, the European Commission on Monday declined to comment on the outcome of the parliamentary election in Croatia where the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) won the majority of votes. The Commission, however, announced that the new government would be evaluated exclusively based on its achievements. #L# The European Commission has positively assessed the election process in Croatia, spokesman Reijo Kemppinen told Hina over the telephone. We hope and believe that the new government will follow the path laid down by the former government, he said. He stressed the European Commission would not change its policy towards Croatia because of the Sunday election. We will evaluate the new government exclusively based on its steps, the spokesman said. The European Commission will continue to review data submitted by the Croatian authorities and the opinion regarding Croatia's EU membership application will be drawn up in accordance with earlier plans, Kemppinen said. Diego de Ojeda, spokesman for European External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten, told Hina he hoped the new government in Croatia would continue to implement economic and political reforms. De Ojeda stressed the need for full cooperation with the Hague-based war crimes tribunal. The EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, has issued a statement calling on the new Croatian leaders to continue to support European values and standards. It is very important for Croatia to have a government which is devoted to meeting the country's international commitments and implementing economic and political reforms, Solana said. (hina) it sb