CRO GOVT DELEGATION LEAVES LISBON FOR BRUSSELS (2)

LISBON, Feb 13 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Ivica Racan and his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Guterres held talks on Saturday, after which the Portuguese premier said he was pleased that Racan, whom he called 'a symbol of a struggle for democracy' had chosen Portugal as his first destination. Guterres expressed full support for the policy of the new Croatian government, adding he hoped it would bring Croatia closer to Euro- Atlantic integration processes. During the meeting, Racan invited Guterres to visit Croatia. The other two members of the Croatian delegation - Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and European Integration Minister Ivan Jakovcic held talks with Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama. After the talks, Gama expressed satisfaction with changes in Croatia and opportunities they were creating for Croatia's cooperation with the EU. Gama said Portugal would do all it can during its presidency of the EU to help Croatia enter the EU. On Monday and Tuesday, the Croatian delegation will visit Brussels, where it will meet senior EU and NATO officials and attend the first meeting of a joint EU-Croatia working group (Task Force). Before leaving Lisbon, the Croatian officials visited some of the capital's historic parts, an exhibition of Croatian sculptor Dusan Dzamonja in the city's central square and an exhibition on Istria. (hina) rml