DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER IMPRESSED BY CRO GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME

ZAGREB, March 15 (Hina) - The Danish Government supports all aims and an ambitious programme of the Croatian Government, said Denmark's Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen in Zagreb after his talks with Croatia's Premier Ivica Racan on Wednesday. During my first meeting with Premier Racan in Brussels when the new Croatian Government presented its programme to the European Union I was impressed by the quality and that ambitious plan for the future of Croatia. Today, after the talks with Premier Racan I am even more impressed, Petersen added. The Danish Government backs all goals of the Croatian Government regarding the economic and social development of the country and regarding good-neighbourly relations and admission in the EuroAtlantic integration processes, the Danish Minister said adding that Copenhagen would like to assist Croatian authorities in the implementation of the programme. "Croatia will support the further close cooperation with Denmark, as it is in our interest," Racan said pointing to similarities between the two European countries. Denmark successfully shows how the social welfare can function. Besides, the coalition government is in power in Denmark just as in Croatia, Racan said in this context. "By cooperating with Denmark we want to show that Croatia is not only a good political but also economic partner," the Premier said. Minister Petersen conveyed to Premier Racan the invitation of Danish Premier Poul Nyrup Rasmussen to visit Copenhagen soon. After the talks with Racan, Niels Helveg Petersen met the National Sabor's Speaker Zlatko Tomcic. (hina) mm ms