AUSTRIA'S MOCK IMPRESSED BY CROATIA'S PRO-EUROPEAN POLICY

ZAGREB, June 28 (Hina) - An Austrian official said on Wednesday he was impressed by the fact that Croatia's every political step was orientated towards the future and joining the European Union. That is a policy the Austrian government and I as minister advocated in the past, Austria's former vice-chancellor and foreign minister Alois Mock said in Zagreb following talks with Croatian President Stipe Mesic. Mock and Mesic discussed European integration and foreign investments in Croatia, including an Adriatic-Ionian highway project and the possible sale of Vecernji List, Croatia's largest circulation daily, to Austrian publisher Styria. Austria has the obligation to assist Croatia, both politically and economically, because "stable Croatia is not only in Croatia's, but in Austria's interest as well," said Mock. He asserted he did not know too much about the concrete difficulties surrounding the sale of Vecernji List, but said Styria "has been trying for decades to establish optimal ties of cultural exchange among Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and Hungary." The Austrian official was today also received by Croatia's Foreign Minister Tonino Picula. A Croatian Foreign Ministry statement said Picula briefed Mock on the current situation in Croatia, especially in connection with economy and foreign affairs. (hina) ha jn