PRESIDENT MESIC RECEIVES ARCHBISHOP TAURAN

ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic on Wednesday held talks with Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, the Holy See's Secretary for Relations with States, on Croatia's bids to enter the European Union, the developments in the world in the aftermath of the recent terrorist attacks in the United States and on the relations between Croatia and the Vatican. Upon their meeting, Mesic's foreign policy adviser, Tomislav Jakic, briefed reporters about the contents of their talks. According to Jakic, Archbishop Tauran relayed the Vatican's firm support to Croatia's bids to be admitted into a united Europe. The dignitary suggested that Croatia use influence on its friends that can help Zagreb to expedite the process of its admission into the European Union. President Mesic voiced satisfaction with Archbishop Tauran's visit to Croatia. In Mesic's mind, Tauran's visit to Zagreb enabled him to be notified with "certain problems which exist", and Mesic reiterated Croatia's stand that Zagreb would properly fulfil all of its obligations, Jakic told reporters. Asked whether the talks tackled the deadlines for the fulfilment of Croatia's commitments, Jakic answered that treaties and agreements were practically not mentioned, and reiterated that Mesic had pledged that his country would meet its international commitments orderly. According to Jakic, the Vatican's representative did not at all raise the question about the speedier fulfilment of such obligations, nor had he mentioned any concrete examples in relation to the restitution of the property of the Church. Regarding a possible visit of Pope John Paul II to Croatia next year, during the talks Mesic reminded that he, together with Premier Ivica Racan, had signed the invitation to the Pontiff and this message would be relayed to the Holy Father. The one-on-one talks between Mesic and Taruan, that preceded that meeting of their delegations, lasted 30 instead of the 15 scheduled minutes. The topic of the Mesic-Tauran private talks remained unknown, although the two interlocutors had previously announced they would inform reporters of it. The talks which the Vatican's official held on Tuesday with Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and subsequently Premier Racan and his first deputy Goran Granic revolved around the regulation of the relations between Zagreb and the Vatican. The interlocutors expressed satisfaction with the bilateral ties. After his meeting with Picula, Tauran expressed satisfaction with the implementation of four treaties which Zagreb signed with the Holy See, and he said he believed some minor items of the agreements would soon be settled. (hina) ms