EU EXPECTS MEANINGFUL RESPONSE BY CROATIAN SIDE - LIPPONEN

ZAGREB, Oct 29 (Hina) - The European Union's Speaking Note submitted to the Croatian Government is EU's serious political stance and we expect a meaningful response from the Croatian side to the stated issues, Finnish Ambassador to Croatia, Osmo Lipponen, told a news conference, speaking on behalf of the EU chairing country, Finland. #L# The Croatian Government announced a response to the Speaking Note for next Tuesday. Lipponen said he had called the news conference to explain several facts regarding the handing of the Speaking Note which seem to be unclear or not noted in the right way. The reactions hitherto, mostly via the media, through misinterpretation create the impression that the EU had with the Speaking Note expressed hostility towards Croatia. The EU troika has clearly stated that the Speaking Note was drawn up in a positive spirit in order to assist further democratisation in Croatia, Lipponen said. The point of the Speaking Note is not to support any single party in Croatia, he said, adding the same message had been given to representatives of the Opposition. Any future Croatian Government will face equal treatment. This is an issue of principle relations, not an issue of who will lead the Croatian Government, Lipponen stressed. He mentioned the Opposition had also wrongly interpreted that the EU had pledged economic assistance. The only truth is that every assistance is followed by the fulfilment of certain criteria, notwithstanding who comprises the Government, Lipponen said. Speaking about a possible visit of opposition leaders to Brussels in November, Lipponen said it was in the interest of the EU for political factors in Croatia be informed with the dialogue in the integration process, and in this sense, the Opposition should be informed about issues connected with the process. Misinterpretations also occurred in relation to the nature of the Speaking Note, Lipponen said. Head of the EU Troika delegation, before reading the Speaking Note at a meeting with Prime Minister Matesa and representatives of the Croatian Government, stressed it was a formal Speaking Note which would be submitted to the Croatian side. This was done after it had been handed to a representative of the Croatian Government who simultaneously handed to us the Croatian Government's White Paper on Croatia's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Lipponen said. He added claims that the level of the EU delegation had not been sufficiently high were false. The EU Troika represents the entire European Union and it is a part of the standard procedure, Lipponen stressed. The EU is aware of the fact that certain issues mentioned in the Speaking Note had been regulated by Croatian laws, but now is the time for them to be made a reality, he said. (hina) lml jn