EUROPEAN COMMISSION RESPONDS TO TUDJMAN'S CONVENTION SPEECH

( Editorial: --> 5083 ) BRUSSELS, Feb 27 (Hina) - The Presidency of the European Commission on behalf of the European Union adopted the declaration on President Tudjman's speech at the Fourth Convention of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), which was published on Friday in Brussels. "The European Union is firmly convinced that reconciliation between different ethnic groups is the key to lasting peace and prosperity in the Western Balkans region. The European Union deplores therefore the tone and content of the speech delivered by President Tudjman at the Fourth HDZ Congress on 21 February, which, as well as being inconsistent with Croatia's international undertakings, casts serious doubt upon Croatia's commitment to the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its willingness to include ethnic Serbs and minorities as full and equal members of Croatian society. The European Union has repeatedly made clear that it expects the Croatian Government to uphold the Dayton Agreement to which it is a Party and its other international obligations and to demonstrate by actions as well as words its unswerving commitment to reconciliation. Croatia's performance in such areas will be a key factor in the development of closer relations between Croatia and the European Union." The Declaration was adopted at yesterday's meeting with representatives of countries in associate membership or in the process of admission to the EU. The Declaration concludes by specifying the countries that supported it, namely Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Rumania and Slovakia. (hina) mm mrb/as 271946 MET feb 98