GRANIC MEETS COUNCIL OF EUROPE SECRETARY-GENERAL IN STRASBOURG

STRASBOURG, Nov 3 (Hina) - Croatia's Foreign Minister Mate Granic, who is leading the Croatian delegation at a regular session of the Council of Europe ministerial committee in Strasbourg, on Wednesday held a meeting with the Council of Europe Secretary- General Walter Sthwimer. Granic told Croatian reporters that Sthwimer and he had discussed relations between Croatia and this European organisation. Sthwimer was interested in the current state of affairs in Croatia, the situation regarding the coming election and adoption of the election law as well as in Croatia's relations with the international Tribunal in The Hague. The two diplomats also considered the Council of Europe's expectations in connection with Croatia's fulfilment of its obligations stemming from a report drawn up by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly's monitoring committee. "The talks were led in a very good atmosphere," said Granic who called Council of Europe representatives to attend Croatia election as monitors. Granic told Sthwimer that officials of OSCE, the European Parliament and the U.S. Congress and representatives of international non-governmental organisations would be called to monitor the election. On Wednesday, Granic signed a Council of Europe convention on the protection of wildlife. It is the 1979 Bern convention on the protection of European wildlife and natural habitats. The main topic on the Strasbourg agenda is the Council of Europe's role within the framework of the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, particularly of the task force for human rights and democracy. (hina) ms