FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES NEW HEAD OF OSCE MISSION TO CROATIA

ZAGREB, June 21 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Monday received the incoming head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe Mission to Croatia, Bernard Poncet. Granic acquainted Ambassador Poncet with the current situation in Croatia. He pointed out the ruling Croatian Democratic Union and the opposition parties recently reached an agreement regarding new electoral legislation. On the international level, Granic said Croatia fully supported NATO actions and the G-8 group peace plan for Kosovo. He added Croatia was also actively participating in the realisation of a stability pact for south-eastern Europe. After ten years of instability caused by the Serbian aggression on Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the said pact should ensure full stability in Croatia's immediate surroundings, Granic added. He pointed out that in all these events, Croatia had confirmed its status as a stable state and a security factor in this region. In view of this, Granic added, Croatia expects to resume early in the autumn negotiations with the European Union on the stability pact and joining, as well as on access to NATO's Partnership for Peace programme. By year's end, we expect full membership in the World Trade Organisation, Granic stressed. On the internal level, Croatia will pursue strengthening democracy and stimulating economic development which, the foreign minister said, was Croatia's interest. Ambassador Poncet expressed satisfaction with the positive course of events in Croatia, pointing out the OSCE Mission will try to be of assistance through closer dialogue with the Croatian government. (hina) ha