EUROPEAN SOCIALISTS DELEGATION VISITS CROATIAN GOVERNMENT

ZAGREB, Feb 28 (Hina) - Croatian Premier Ivica Racan on Monday received a delegation of the Party of European Socialists (PES) visiting Zagreb, the Croatian government's Media and Public Relations Office said in a statement. The delegation includes Jan Marinus Wiersma, PES vice president and deputy chairman of the European Union Integration Expansion Committee, PES secretary-general Ton Beumer, and Friedrich J. Rol, coordinator for East and Southeast Europe. Present at the talks alongside Racan was Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula. European socialists support Croatia's government, said Wiersma, adding Croatia's role in the region was of key importance. It is important that Croatia is ruled by a stable government oriented towards Euro-Atlantic integration, he said. Today's talks tackled Croatia's rapprochement with European structures, the political situation in the region, refugee and displaced person return projects, minorities, and human rights. Croatia's government accepts its share of the responsibility for peace, security and stability in the region, and is aware its future contribution could be bigger than it was possible before, Premier Racan said. (hina) ha jn