MEETING OF SABOR AND EURO PARLIAMENT DELEGATIONS ENDS

DUBROVNIK, April 22 (Hina) - The seventh meeting between a Croatian parliamentary delegation and representatives of the European Parliament ended on Thursday in Dubrovnik by a news conference. During the talks the two sides expressed the mutual wish that Croatia be as soon as possible included into European integration processes and become a member-state of the European Union (EU), said Zarko Domljan, the head of the Croatian delegation and a Vice- President of the Croatian national parliament (Sabor). Our talks were open and friendly and we expect the certain benefit from them and from colleagues at the European Parliament to support Croatia's bid to come closer to the EU, Domljan added. The head of the European Parliament's representatives, Doris Pack, said she had been following developments in Croatia since 1990 and held that now it was time for Croatia to come nearer to the EU. It would be important for Croatia to do right now that qualitative step forward, Pack said adding the step referred to problems with displaced people and refugees, the electoral law and the situation in the media. The two-day talks revolved around the internal situation in the country, Croatia's international standing and its relations with the EU member-states, the central European initiative member- countries and neighbours. The meeting was also attended by Croatian Minister for European integration, Ljerka Mintas Hodak, a representative of the European Commission, Gerhard Sabathil, and the EU special envoy in Croatia, Per Vinther. (hina) jn ms