RELATIONS BETWEEN ITALY AND CROATIA GROW INTO PARTNERSHIP

ZAGREB, May 25 (Hina) - Bilateral relations between Croatia and Italy have in the past four months grown from good into partnership relations, Italian Ambassador Fabio Pagliapoco, said on Thursday. This confirms a number of moves on both sides, starting from numerous meetings at high levels, growing trade, to Italy's role in Thursday's signing of the agreement on Croatia's entry into the Partnership for Peace (PFP) in Florence, Pagliapoco said speaking at a diplomatic forum of the International Relations Institute in Zagreb. Pagliapoco stressed Thursday's official entrance into the PFP was a moment when Croatia's history changes. With this act the international community recognises the Croatian people and the new Croatian authority which included in its programme European standards and all international requests, related to the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, cooperation with the international war crimes tribunal and neighbours, Pagliapoco said. Italy does not wish to stress its merit for Croatia's entry into the PFP, which would not have come about without the support of other NATO partners, but we can humbly say that we have plaid our part, he said. He stressed the importance of the May meeting in Rome between Prime Minister Ivica Racan and NATO Secretary-General George Robertson. Pagliapoco promised a similar support by Italy to Croatia's entrance into the European Union. (hina) lml jn