CROATIA, EU SIGN STABILISATION AND ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT

LUXEMBOURG, Oct 29 (Hina) - Croatia signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union (EU) in Luxembourg on Monday, whereby Zagreb has won the status of potential candidate for full-right membership in the Union.#L# The Agreement for the first time establishes contractual relations between Croatia and the EU. It was signed by Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan, 15 EU members' foreign ministers, and the European commissioner for foreign affairs, Chris Patten. The Agreement goes into force upon ratification in the Croatian parliament, the parliaments of all EU members, and the European Parliament, which should take approximately two years. In order not to wait for the ratification, a transitional agreement was signed to activate the trade and transport provisions of the SAA. The transitional agreement goes into force on Jan. 1, 2002. The latter agreement was signed simultaneously with the SAA, by Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula, the chairman of the EU Council of Ministers - Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, and commissioner Patten. Croatia and the EU also adopted a joint declaration on political dialogue which establishes the goals and content of political dialogue for the period leading to the ratification of the SAA. (hina) ha sb