PARLIAMENT ENDS DISCUSSION ON STABILITY PACT

ZAGREB, Oct 21 (Hina) - The Croatian National Parliament House of Representatives on Thursday ended a discussion on the Stability Pact for the South-east of Europe adopting a report by Foreign Minister Mate Granic. Most MPs, with some caution, supported Croatia's active participation in the Pact in a way explained by Minister Granic in his report. In his closing statement, Granic stressed that the goal of the European Union was not to create an island of the south-east of Europe, but to create an integrated and unified Europe. Granic assessed that the Pact, as a process of post-war economic renewal and political and security stabilisation of countries in the region for their approach to Euro-Atlantic integrations, also hides certain dangers. He cited the possibility of Croatia's access into the EU and NATO be tied to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia, that is, for democratic processes in these countries, which Croatia energetically refuses. The basic functioning mechanisms of Croatian diplomacy in the stability Pact will be an active approach and protection of national interests, Granic said. (hina) lml