DANUBE REGION IS TEST FOR CROATIA - NORTH ATLANTIC ASSEMBLY

( Editorial: --> 8224 ) ZAGREB, Mar 9 (Hina) - The Danube River region is a test for Croatia to show whether it is capable of building a multi-cultural society which is a condition for Euro-Atlantic integrations, a delegation of the North Atlantic Assembly's committee for civil affairs visiting Croatia said Monday. Today the delegation met Croatian National Parliament president Vlatko Pavletic and representatives of parliament's foreign affairs committee. The aim of the delegation's visit is to get acquainted with problems arising from the transition from one system to another and how to solve them, they told reporters. Head of the delegation Wim van Eekelen said the Croatian Danube region was one of the major interests of the North Atlantic Assembly. The Danube region should show whether it is possible to create a multi-cultural society first there, and then elsewhere in Croatia, Eekelen said. Independent from NATO with which it has permanent relations, the North Atlantic Assembly is an inter-parliamentary organisation representing a forum for parliamentarians from North American and West European NATO member-countries. Sixteen new democracies from the former Communist bloc have been granted associate member status, but Croatia is still not among them. Asked by reporters about Croatia's prospects of receiving associate status at the Assembly, delegation member Alice Mahon said in Croatia's case there was still concern whether people could coexist in a multi-cultural country. Members of the Croatian Parliament's foreign affairs committee stressed that among political parties in Croatia there was a consensus regarding joining Euro-Atlantic integrations. While discussing problems Croatia is faced with, some members of the foreign affairs committee remarked about the freedom of the media and the degree of transparency of the military budget, pointing out the necessity of depoliticising the army and spoke about problems in the two-way return. (hina) ha jn /mb 091429 MET mar 98