PRODI: POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN CROATIA, EU TO RESUME IN FEBRUARY

ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - The political dialogue between Croatia and the European Union will be continued in February and a new chapter of open dialogue and concrete relations between Zagreb and the EU will be opened, European Commission President Romano Prodi told reporters in Zagreb on Friday. Prodi arrived in Zagreb this afternoon for a short visit, during which he met Croatian Sabor President and Acting Head of State Vlatko Pavletic and the future premier designate Ivica Racan. Prodi said the two sides were opening a new chapter in their relations and he was visiting Croatia to show that the EU wanted to sign that new chapter together with Croatia. Of concrete moves, Prodi announced that the political dialogue with Croatia, which was interrupted in 1995, would be re-opened in February and that the EU commissioner for foreign affairs, Chris Patten, would arrive in Zagreb as soon as the new government was in power. "Another action would be to start a consultative task force" and upgrade the EC office in Zagreb, he added. Prodi said Croatia was an important and traditional part of Europe and the EC wanted to have a long-term relationship with Croatia because it was important for peace in the region. The European Union demands from Croatia what it demands from other countries. These are general principles and rules which are valid for all other countries, he said. Prodi said he was aware that Croatia needed concrete ideas and measures, adding the EC was open for any form of cooperation with Zagreb. However, he declined to comment on when the first agreements between Croatia and the EU could be signed. "It is a long-term goal" which should be implemented step by step, Prodi added. He reiterated the EU's support for the Stability Pact. (hina) rml