PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER MEETS AUSTRIA'S CHANCELLOR

PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER MEETS AUSTRIA'S CHANCELLOR ZAGREB, Oct 6 (Hina) - Croatian parliamentary speaker Zlatko Tomcic on Friday received Wolfgang Schuessel, Austria's chancellor, parliament's public relations service said in a statement. Talks addressed relations between the two friendly countries and the situation in the region. The two officials agreed European Union member states should preserve their national identity. The Austrian chancellor said this year's political changes in Croatia had spurred the recent political developments in neighbouring Serbia, which he sees as the origin of crisis in the region over the past decade. He is hopeful the latest events in Belgrade will lead to the democratisation of Serbia. Schuessel also said it was necessary to intensify the implementation of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe. The Croatian parliamentary speaker pointed to the issue of refugee and displaced persons returns. Schuessel said it was an issue whose solving was one of the Pact's key tasks. The chancellor was interested in the functioning of Croatia's six- party ruling coalition. Tomcic said the formation of the coalition had been conditioned by the preceding political situation, and that it worked thanks to the common goals of the member parties. Tomcic also acquainted Schuessel with Croatia's current amending of the Constitution. (hina) ha