GRANIC: CRO EXPECTS STRONGER GERMAN SUPPORT IN EU & STABILITY PACT

RABAT, July 7 (Hina) - Croatia expects Germany will intensify its support to Croatia's approaching the European Union (EU) and the promotion of Croatian interests within the Stability Pact for south-east Europe, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic told Hina on Wednesday. Granic, on a visit to Morocco, spoke on the eve of German counterpart Joschka Fischer's visit to Croatia.#L# "He is coming at a time crucial for Croatia to begin negotiations on strengthening institutionalised relations with the EU," Granic, who is to meet Fischer in Zagreb on Thursday, said. The present institutionalised relations between Croatia and the EU are minimal, amounting to trade privileges which the EU gives Croatia and are inherited from the former Yugoslav federation. In a few days, the chief prosecutor with the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Louise Arbour, will also visit Zagreb to discuss some open issues regarding Croatia's cooperation with the tribunal. Asked whether Arbour would discuss her alleged intention to sign indictments against four Croatian generals, Foreign Minister Granic said, "There will be talk on all open issues on both sides, especially on issues put forward at the Croatian parliament." "Croatia's interest is to continue concrete cooperation with The Hague tribunal," he said. Granic was also asked whether a U.S. State Department statement saying Croatian authorities were pressurising the Open Society Institute meant a deterioration in Croatia-American relations. "It is basic that relations between the U.S. and Croatia are good and firm. Croatia and the U.S. however have a permanent critical dialogue in which we have certain expectations of the U.S. and the U.S. certain expectations of us," the foreign minister said. (hina) ha jn