CROATIA WILL PLAY ACTIVE ROLE IN STABILITY PACT - VERHEUGEN

ZAGREB, May 13 (Hina) - As a political factor, Croatia will play an active role in the Stability Pact and Germany believes that Zagreb must be part of the European integration process, state secretary at the German Foreign Ministry, Guenther Verheugen, told reporters in Zagreb on Thursday, at the end of his two-day visit to Croatia. "We have reached an agreement on Croatia to have an active role in the making of the Stability Pact", Verheugen said, adding Germany "appreciates not only Croatia's participation in the making of the Stability Pact, but its having taken the initiative in organising a preparatory meeting" between the countries of the first line, to be held in Zagreb next week. "In our opinion, Croatia can and must play a constructive role not as an object but a political factor in the Stability Pact", Verheugen said. Germany believes Croatia must be part of the European integration process, he said, adding Zagreb could count on the support of Bonn. However, before that, Croatia has to meet certain requirements, such as changes to the election law, particularly its Diaspora list, media democratisation, changes to discriminatory sections of some laws, as well as the return of refugees. The German official described his Zagreb talks with Croatian authorities and representatives of the 'Opposition Six' as very constructive and successful. He said his talks with Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa had focused on the economic damage Croatia was suffering due to the NATO operation in Yugoslavia. The Croatian Premier did not criticise our operation in Yugoslavia as we will try to do everything in our power to help Croatia as regards the financial damage, Verheugen said. (hina) rml