EU COMMISSION PROMOTES ITS OFFICE TO PERMANENT MISSION IN ZAGREB

BRUSSELS, Feb 8 (Hina) - The European Commission has decided to raise a level of its office in Zagreb to its permanent mission in Croatia. A Croatian diplomat in Brussels, Boris Grgic, told Hina on Tuesday that this decision of the Commission had confirmed announced intentions of the European Union to strengthen ties with Croatia and intensify a political dialogue within the process of stabilisation and association. The Commission has such permanent diplomatic missions in all countries, non-members of the EU, with which it cherishes normal institutionalised or contractual relations. The European Commission has simultaneously decided to upgrade a level of its offices in Skopje, Macedonia, and Sarajevo, Bosnia- Herzegovina, to permanent missions. During his recent visit to Zagreb the Commission's President Romano Prodi announced the promotion of the relations between the Commission and Croatia, assessing positively the Croatian elections. The formal opening of the permanent mission in Zagreb is expected to be held in the beginning of March when the EU commissioner for foreign relations, Chris Patten, should visit Croatia. (hina) ms