DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER SANADER MEETS DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTER

LONDON, May 6 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader met Dutch Foreign Minister J.J. van Aartsen in London on Wednesday. The meeting took place during an event marking the 50th anniversary of the Council of Europe, the Croatian Foreign Ministry reported yesterday. The two officials discussed possible solutions to the Kosovo crisis and the future security-political concept which would secure permanent stability in south-east and central Europe. Croatia's Sanader spoke about the steps his country has been taking so far with the aim of normalising its relations with neighbouring countries, as well as about its support to the efforts of the international community to establish peace. It is in Croatia's direct interest that the crisis be ended as soon as possible and that the European Union adopt such a policy towards the region, which would be based primarily on the principle of individual admission of interested countries to European and transatlantic associations, Sanader said. Yesterday's talks were held at the request of the Dutch Foreign Minister, within preparations of the European Union for an imminent conference to deal with a stability pact. The two officials also discussed the question of Croatia's southernmost peninsula Prevlaka and succession to the former Yugoslavia. Present at the talks were also Croatia's Ambassador to London, Andrija Kojakovic, and the Permanent Representative at the Council of Europe, Vladimir Matek. (hina) rml