TOMAC: CROATIA'S ACCESSION INTO EU NOT TO PROCEED EASILY

ZAGREB, Nov 10 (Hina) - A Croatian parliament deputy speaker, Zdravko Tomac, who is the head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, on Friday said the process of Croatia's approaching to the European Union would not run smoothly, particularly owing to a serious economic situation. Tomac received the Belgian Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Jan de Bock who wanted to be informed of this matter, read a statement released by the Sabor press office. Tomac told him the process of the association with the EU would not be easy due to the grave economic situation. As far as the Sabor is concerned, a committee will be set up to tackle the matter, and "despite all (of its efforts) Tomac believes that Croatia will never enter such structured European Union," the statement read. Tomac said aspirations of the Croatian nation would be to become a part of central Europe and that any inter-state treaty with Balkan countries would stir up negative reactions. De Bock said the problems of the Balkans would gradually be resolved and that for Croatia it would be possible to enter the EU in the near future if the entire nation invest efforts in this objective. (hina) ms