SOLANA, DROBNJAK DISCUSS CROATIA'S DRAWING CLOSER TO EU IN DUBROVNIK

DUBROVNIK, Aug 31 (Hina) - The European Union's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, held talks with Croatia's Assistant Foreign Minister Vladimir Drobnjak on the process of Croatia's drawing closer to the EU, in Dubrovnik on Thursday. Solana expressed satisfaction with the talks, stressing the importance of a meeting of representatives of countries in the region and EU member-countries, which should take place in Zagreb in October. Solana said the talks tackled an agreement on stabilisation and association, about which the EU should make a decision in October, and a summit of countries in the region and EU member-countries in Zagreb in October. He added Croatia's and the EU's stands on this issue were very similar. Solana believed the two sides would agree on the concept of the summit which would be acceptable for both sides. Drobnjak said the meeting with Solana confirmed that relations between Croatia and the European Commission were constantly improving. "We have discussed a set of topical issues, primarily negotiations on an agreement on stabilisation and association, which we believe will start in late October, as well as different programmes of assistance to Croatia and the situation in the region," Drobnjak said. After his meeting with Drobnjak, Solana met Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic in Dubrovnik this evening. (hina) rml