SANADER RECEIVES GERMAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY REPRESENTATIVE

ZAGREB, July 21 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader on Wednesday received Eberhard Brecht, representative of the Social Democratic Party at the German parliament. According to a statement from the Croatian Foreign Ministry, Sanader and Brecht discussed the current situation in south east Europe. Both officials pointed to the significance of the Stability Pact for South East Europe as an initiative which will ensure lasting stability and peace after the long crisis period, and make it possible for interested countries to integrate with western institutions. As a country neighbouring South East Europe, Croatia has actively participated in the preparations for the pact, Sanader said, adding Croatia would pursue its active role in the pact's implementation. The deputy foreign minister said the success of the stability pact depended exclusively on parallel cooperation among the countries included, and on their simultaneous approach to the European Union and NATO on an individual basis, by the evaluation of each country's achievements. Sanader stressed Croatia was politically and economically stable and would attempt to have a beneficial effect on the establishment of identical stability in neighbouring countries. Speaking about the internal state of affairs, Sanader said Croatia's ruling and opposition parties would continue making efforts to reach consensus on new electoral legislation, on the basis of an agreement signed in May. Croatia will also pursue its process of overall democratisation, the deputy foreign minister said. (hina) ha