CRO PREMIER MEETS PRESIDENT OF NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Monday held talks with president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Javier Ruperez on Croatia's status in NATO. Prime Minister Racan expressed satisfaction about Croatia's accession into the NATO Parliamentary Assembly as an observer. He added that one of Croatia's main goals was joining the partnership for Peace programme, and then NATO, read a statement issued by the Croatian Government Media and Public Relations Office. The talks were also on a new transparent policy of Croatia toward Bosnia-Herzegovina, the cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and moves Croatian Government had taken to solve social and economic crisis in the country. The Prime Minister stressed he supported the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe from the beginning, adding that cooperation with neighbours was Croatia's national interest. The two officials concluded that cooperation between Croatia and Brussels was good. Ruperez stressed the NATO Parliamentary Assembly fully supported Croatia's joining EuroAtlantic associations. (hina) it