CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, ITALIAN PREMIER HOLD TALKS IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK, Sept 12 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Tonino Picula and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi held talks on the margins of a UN General Assembly session in New York on Thursday, when they discussed the international situation, particularly focusing on the region of south-east Europe, as well as aspects of bilateral cooperation. #L# Berlusconi confirmed the commitment of the Italian government to support Croatia's aspirations to join Euro-Atlantic structures, as well as assist it in a quick Italian parliament's ratification of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement signed between Croatia and the European Union. Picula stressed Croatia was determined to continue the fast adjustment of its judicial system to EU's norms and legislative principles. Picula and Berlusconi expressed satisfaction with the cooperation between the two countries within the frameworks of regional forums, especially the Central European Initiative, the Stability Pact, the Quadrilateral and the Adriatic-Ionic Initiative of which Italy has been the chairing country since July 1. The two sides applauded the great progress in the development of economic and cultural relations, stressing the importance of the role of minorities in this. The two agreed to establish a working group this month which would examine the legitimate rights of those who fled the region of the former Yugoslavia during war-time, in the light of new provisions of a Croatian law on denationalisation, and findings of a commission of legal experts established by the Italian government last year. They also agreed to begin negotiations on the signing of a cooperation agreement on maritime affairs as soon as possible. (hina) lml