CROATIA'S REPRESENTATIVE ADDRESSES SKOPJE SEECP CONFERENCE

SKOPJE, March 20 (Hina) - Croatia is participating as observer in the second conference of parliamentary speakers of countries participating in the South-East European Co-operation Process regional initiative, taking place in the Macedonian capital of Skopje over Tuesday and Wednesday. Attending the conference are representatives of Macedonia, Albania, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Bosnia, and Yugoslavia. Croatia is represented by Mate Granic, chairman of parliament's European Integration Committee, who said that Croatia, in accordance with last November's Zagreb Declaration, was working on the development of good neighbourly relations and cooperation, in the interest of peace and stability in the region as prerequisites for the further development of bilateral relations with the European Union. Granic also said Croatia supported some joint regional projects, particularly the building of the Adriatic-Ionian Highway. He briefed the Skopje conference about the course of Croatia's negotiations with the EU on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement. Commenting on the unrest in northern Macedonia, Granic said Croatia condemned the militant extremists' actions as they posed a risk Southeast Europe's stability. He stressed Croatia supported the Macedonian government in defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. (hina) ha