SAA IS FIRST STEP TOWARDS FINAL GOAL -- CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

BRUSSELS, May 14 (Hina) - Croatia is very clear in its European ambitions and the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) is the first step towards the realisation of the final goal -- membership in the EU, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in Brussels upon the initialling of the SA Agreement between the EU and Croatia today. "I am convinced the status of EU associate member Croatia is gaining with the SAA will contribute to the further development of mutual understanding and cooperation as have been marked in the past 15 months. The Croatian government is very clear in its European ambitions and deems the SAA the first step towards the realisation of the final goal -- membership in the EU," Picula said. The SAA was initialled at the right moment when crises continue to threaten the South East of Europe. "Regional stability crucial for the political and economic development of this part of Europe is in our mutual interest. Today I wish to confirm Croatia's readiness to play an active role in the building and promoting of regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations, including the process of refugee return," Picula asserted. He called on neighbouring countries to aspire to democratic, economic and social reforms and foster the same values Croatia shares with the united Europe. The minister reiterated Croatia's goal is to achieve a degree of readiness for full membership in the European Union by the end of 2006. The speed at which Croatia will be integrated into the European Union will also depend on our ability to implement the SAA commitments. I assure you Croatia has the potential and the will to fulfil the Agreement's goals. However, we shall be in need of financial and technical assistance from the EU in order to implement our government's programme and the demanding reforms, Picula said in his address to his colleagues. General Affairs Council commissioner Chris Patten and the chairwoman of the EU Ministerial Council, Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, congratulated Croatia for making it to the Agreement at record speed, and stressed Croatia's example should become a model for the entire region. Croatia deserves commendations for such a quick reaching of the agreement which opens it the path to a gradual accession into the EU. This should become a model for the region. The successful implementation of the SAA will be the main element in assessing Croatia in its efforts to join the Union, Patten stressed. He reiterated Croatia, as all other countries on this path, will be evaluated according to individual credits. Asked by reporters at a news conference when Croatia will submit its request for becoming a full EU member, Picula said very soon following this autumn's signing of the SAA. "In any case, we will try to do this in agreement with the European Commission," Picula said. "We are satisfied with the political part of the SAA and I think this is the maximum that could have been achieved. It is now our main task to concentrate on the implementation of the SAA," the foreign minister stressed. Croatia's chief negotiator with the EU, Neven Mimica, said the government would draw up a national SAA implementation programme within a month, including the precise defining of individual ministries in the process of state administration reform. The Minister for European Integration, Ivan Jakovcic, asserted the SAA is a big opportunity for Croatia's economy to which the doors of the EU market are opening, but also presents a clear message to EU business people that Croatia is a country with prospects for investments. (hina) lml