CROATIA WILL NOT COMPETE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES BUT ITSELF - MIMICA

VIENNA, Jan 31 (Hina) - As a part of his visit to Austria, Croatia's chief negotiation with the European Union on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), Neven Mumica, held a lecture on relations between Croatia and the EU in Vienna on Tuesday evening. Speaking about the stabilisation and association process as a new type of agreement offered by the EU to southeast European countries, which emphasises the importance of stabilisation in the region, Mimica said the strategic priorities of those countries and Croatia were not only stabilisation in the region, but that it was also important that the countries be enabled to individually take part in the expansion of the EU. Stability in neighbouring countries is of great interest for Croatia, and Croatia's goal is to reach EU standards according to its own merits. Mimica stressed "Croatia doesn't want to compete with other countries, current EU candidates, but with itself, in order to realise goals and fulfil obligations, and to be ready to achieve the level of economic and legal adjustment for full membership in the EU by 2007. Croatia can expect a complete reform of the society and offer quality manpower and labour, high technology production, a safe tourist area and corridors significant for the connection of the entire Europe, Mimica said in front of about 200 businessmen, eminent politicians and economists from Austria. (hina) it