STABILITY PACT INITIATIVE APPLAUDS CROATIA'S ANTI-CORRUPTION EFFORT

ZAGREB, Dec 20 (Hina) - The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe's anti-corruption initiative (SPAI) highly praised the measures Croatia has undertaken to combat corruption, the Justice Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. SPAI's first meeting assessed the implementation of seven articles from the initiative's action plan. The ministry regretted that owing to financial hardships, a Croatian delegation was unable to attend the Dec. 18-19 Strasbourg session. Croatia was represented by the first secretary at its permanent mission to the Council of Europe, Miroslav Papa. The statement reminded a discussion on the possibility of paying participation costs for experts from countries attending the Brussels meeting via funds intended for the SPAI's work had been held at Croatia's urging. "The evaluation of measures taken by... Croatia is extremely positive. The Stability Pact's special coordinator Bodo Hombach in his address expressly commended the... government's activity in preventing corruption and the announced establishment of the Corruption and Organised Crime Combating Office," said the statement. SPAI especially applauded Croatia's national report on measures taken within the first round of the initiative's realisation. The next meeting has been scheduled for May 2001. (hina) ha