SABOR MARKS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF MEMBERSHIP IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE

ZAGREB, Nov 6 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's delegation at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on Tuesday held a special session, entitled "Five Years of Croatia's Membership in the Council of Europe - Recognition and Commitments". Present at the session were also Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and the chairman of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Lord Russel Johnston. After gaining independence, Croatia defined its objectives, one of its most important steps being admission to the Council of Europe, Picula said. He recalled that the Council of Europe monitoring mission in Croatia had ended in September last year. However, despite its achievements, "we are aware that we have the responsibility to continue the reforms", and prove Croatia implements and appreciates the objectives of the Council of Europe, he said, adding Croatia had to consolidate its role as a partner in Europe. The head of Croatia's delegation at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Mirjana Feric Vac, said Croatia had often been autocratic and non-transparent on its path towards Europe and that, due to the war and post-war problems, it made progress on a step-by-step basis. Lord Russel Johston said democracy was not an isolated event but a process many European countries were going through. He stressed that Croatia had suffered a lot in the war, which it had not started. Before the start of the session, Johnston held talks with a parliament deputy speaker, Vlatko Pavletic, on the new Council of Europe topic - the fight against terrorism. (hina) rml