EUROPEAN COMMISSION INVITES CROATIAN OPPOSITION LEADERS FOR TALKS

ZAGREB, Jan 27 (Hina) - Head of the Croatian permanent mission at the European Union, Janko Vranyczany-Dobrinovic, told Hina on Wednesday the European Commission had invited leaders of Croatian opposition parties for talks about their views of the EU. "This is European Commission's initiative and is included in similar visits of representatives of countries which wish to realise a closer relationship with the EU," Vranyczany said, confirming articles in Zagreb media. Zagreb dailies "Vecernji list" and "Jutarnji list" on Tuesday and Wednesday announced that leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), Croatian Peasants' party (HSS), Liberal Party (LS), Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) and Croatian People's Party (HNS) were to visit Brussels in march, at the invitation of the European Commission. "It is significant that EU and Croatia are coming closer, wishing for unnecessarily exaggerated misunderstandings to be overcome," he said. Commenting on the present relations between Croatia and the European union, Vranyczany said the EU was realising that by its regional approach and stricter conditions for beginning cooperation which it had imposed to countries south-east of Slovenia, including Croatia, it had restricted itself from carrying out a more flexible policy. "Croatia has become stabilised in the meantime, developed its democracy, maybe slowly for the EU, it is fulfilling its commitments, and a view is forming that Croatian territory should not remain blocked long-term," he stressed. Vranyczany refuted claims by the Zagreb dailies that the six opposition parties made conditional their talks with EU officials upon Croatia's accession into the PHARE Programme. "That definitely is not true, and the European Commission would not even agree to this," he stressed. Vranyczany added the issue would be discussed during the talks. (hina) lml mm