DORIS PACK PROPOSES THAT SAA WITH CRO BE RATIFIED IN DECEMBER

ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, Nov 29 (Hina) - Due only to bureaucratic and internal procedural rules it has been envisaged to have the debate and the vote on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union during a session of the European Parliament scheduled for January 2002, the president of the Southeast Europe delegation of the European parliament, Doris Pack, said in a statement in Brussels on Thursday. Croatian media speculated that by delaying the discussion, the European Parliament was sending a certain political message. Pack, however, proposed today that the ratification of the SAA be addressed during the European Parliament session in December in order to accelerate the procedure. "This will be possible because of the unanimous agreement in the Foreign affairs committee in favour of the SAA with Croatia and will allow to vote on it at least on Thursday, December 13," Pack said in the statement. "Such vote will confirm the European Parliament position expressed last year, in favour of the adoption of the SAA with Croatia. This is a big step forward to Europe and not, as some in Croatia claim, a step back to the Balkans," the statement read. (hina) it