RACAN OPENS CROATIAN NATIONAL DAY AT EXPO 2000

HANNOVER, June 10 (Hina) - Opening Croatia's national day at EXPO 2000 in Hannover Saturday, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said Croatia no longer wished to be an island, but it wished to cooperate with Europe and the world. "Croatia has many islands, but it no longer wishes to be an island in any sense", said Racan who arrived in Hannover Saturday morning. He stressed Croatia wished to be a good partner to Europe and European countries, and added that "a democratic Europe needed a democratic Croatia". Over the past years we fell behind in efforts to demonstrate our possibilities because of the war and mistakes of the old regime, Racan said after the performance of the Croatian and German national anthems. Later in the day the Croatian Prime Minister, who is the head of a Croatian delegation will visit the Croatian pavilion. After the visit, Racan and the Croatian vice Prime Minister and national commissioner for EXPO 2000, Zeljka Antunovic, will hold a press conference. Racan will visit German, Portuguese, the Czech and French pavilions and is to leave a hand print in the Europa-Haus. The Croatian delegation also includes Foreign Minister Tonino Picula, Tourism Minister Pave Zupan-Ruskovic, Science and Technology Minister Hrvoje Kraljevic, and Croatian Ambassador with the UNESCO in Paris Vesna Girardi-Jurkic. EXPO 2000 is being held in Germany, Hannover between June 1 and October 30. (hina) it