CROATIAN, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS START TALKS IN SPLIT

SPLIT, March 26 (Hina) - A delegation of a European Parliament delegation for relations with South-East Europe and a Sub- Committee for cooperation with the European Parliament of the Croatian Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs started their ninth meeting in Split on Monday. The Croatian delegation is headed by Parliament Deputy Speaker and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Zdravko Tomac, while the European Parliament delegation is headed by Doris Pack, who chairs the Split meeting. During the two-day closed-door meeting, the Croatian and European parliamentarians will discuss the political situation in Croatia, refugee return, Croatia's cooperation with the Hague-based war crimes tribunal, the situation in the media, talks on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), the situation in the region and Croatia's relations with neighbouring countries. Tomac and Ivo Skrabalo, another member of the Croatian delegation, told reporters the meeting was very important. They added that Croatia and the EU could sign the SAA by May 15 this year. Tomac said that he would initiate talks on Bosnia and suggest that the EU delegates visit Bosnia as soon as possible. At the end of the meeting, the two delegations will hold a news conference and present their conclusions. (hina) rml