PATTEN ARRIVES IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - The European commissioner for foreign affairs, Chris Patten, will visit Zagreb on Thursday for talks with senior government officials on the course of Croatia's rapprochement with the European Union, the European Commission said in Brussels on Wednesday. Patten will also attend a part of a government session tackling Croatia-EU relations, particularly negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA). Patten's visit to Zagreb will show the EU supports Croatia at a time when the Croatian government is facing difficult decisions as to the application of the SAA, read the Brussels statement. It also points out that a significant progress has been noted in Croatia-EU relations. Patten's visit will focus on two aspects of the SAA, namely associate status in the EU and stabilisation in the region through regional cooperation. In this respect, Croatia plays an important role as a stabilising factor in the region, read the statement. After Zagreb, Patten will travel to Tirana where he will address Albania's rapprochement with the EU with local officials. (hina) ha sb