SOLANA: WE ARE HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT TO NEW CROATIA

ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - The European Union's high envoy for foreign and security policy, Javier Solana, said in Zagreb on Tuesday the EU Troika was visiting Croatia to show support for a new Croatia which is moving in the direction of Europe. "We are here to show our support to the new Croatia, democratic Croatia, which is moving in the direction of Europe," Solana told a news conference after meeting Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan. Solana arrived in Croatia on Tuesday for a one-day visit together with Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama, and the director of the French Foreign Ministry's department for Europe, Hugues Pernet. Gama expressed hope that Croatia will begin talks with the EU on an stabilisation and association agreement during this semester already and during Portugal's EU presidency. "We are optimistic regarding the upcoming talks on the agreement on stabilisation and association," Racan said, emphasising Croatia was aware that "the outcome of those talks depends primarily" on Croatia itself. Solana stressed the importance of the first moves made by the Croatian government regarding the return of refugees, assessing the return of refugees was important not only for Croatia but the whole region as well. Solana and Gama hoped for the success of the upcoming donors' conference of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe, which will be held in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday. (hina) rml