EU REITERATES DEMAND THAT CROATIA COMPLY WITH ITS OBLIGATIONS

( Editorial: --> 1832 ) LONDON, Mar 24 (Hina) - Croatia cannot move closer to Europe without demonstrating a clear, long-term commitment to the implmentation of the Dayton and Erdut agreements, ethnic reconciliation and democratic reform, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said in a statement Monday. The statement was issued following a Monday meeting in London Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic had with the European Union Troika, which includes Cook, Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel, and Luxembourg state minister Lydia Err. "We made it clear that Croatia would not move closer to Europe without demonstrating a clear, long-term commitment to the Dayton and Erdut Agreements, ethnic reconciliation and democratic reform", Cook pointed out on behalf of the EU, this year chaired by Great Britain, on the occasion of the meeting with Croatia's Granic. According to the British Foreign Secretary, "Croatia must act rapidly to improve its performance in four key areas: compliance with the peace agreements; the return of refugees; internal democracy; and Eastern Slavonia". Granic was handed a copy of a paper agreed by EU partners which, Cook said, "explains in detail what action the EU expects Croatia to take". According to British Foreign Office spokesman Quentin Eyre-Wilson, the paper outlines a EU standpoint agreed in February. The paper was delivered to the Croatian Government on March 12 during Foreign Office minister Tony Lloyd's visit to Zagreb, the spokesman said. British and Croatian sources say Granic handed the EU Troika a paper which recalls what the EU had requested of Croatia and what Croatia had done so far. In the EU paper, the EU welcomes Croatia's efforts to be integrated in European structures and is willing to cooperate "with those in Croatia whose aim is the consolidation of a democratic state prepared to implement its international obligations". But, the paper points out, "without clear commitment to Dayton and Erdut agreements, ethnic reconciliation and democratic reform, Croatia has no chance of realising its European aspirations". The EU is concerned by recent developments in Croatia, the paper says, including Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's speech at the general convention of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union. Concern is shared throughout the interanational community, the paper adds, pointing out Croatia "can expect it to be stated clearly in fora such as the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe". The EU paper recalls that the European Commission is compiling a report on Croatia's compliance with regional approach conditionality criteria. EU Foreign Ministers will consider in April "whether Croatia's performance merits further development of relations", says the paper, adding "further indications that Croatia is moving away from EU criteria may prompt questioning of Croatian participation in the autonomous trade measures system". As regards "compliance with peace agreements", Croatia is required "clear and unambiguous (...) commitment to (the) Dayton/Paris (Agreement) and Bosnian territorial integrity"; "immediate public withdrawal of Croatian proposals on special relations with the Bosniac/Croat Federation"; "commitment to work with the Office of the High Representative to make Croatia/Bosnia relations and proposed agreements in this respect compatible with Dayton"; "further cooperation with Interational Tribunal in The Hague"; "EU expects further pressure on Bosnian Croats to cooperate fully in Dayton implementation, including dissolution of remaining Herzeg- Bosna institutions". As regards the return of refugees, the paper says that Croatian authorities are expected to issue a "definitive public statement (...) setting out commitment to reconciliation", "implementation by the Croatian government of the Programme for Confidence Building, Speedy Return and the Normalisation of Life in the War Affected Areas", and the "presentation of a credible concept for refugee return to all parts of Croatia, including to the Krajina." The EU paper states as priorities, among else, "legal implementation of principle of non-discrimination on ethnic grounds", "public campaign to reassure minority communities of their rights and place in Croatian society", and "determined police action to prevent harassment of minorities". As regards internal democracy, the EU paper requires "concrete steps towards establishment of editorially-independent state electronic media and full opposition access to state channels", as well as "ceasing of harassment of independent media" and "removal of obstacles to non-government organisation activity". As regards Eastern Slavonia, the EU paper requires "public reaffirmation by the Croatian government and, by its actions, demonstration of its commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the Basic Agreement and other agreements in full". Also required is "decisive action (...) to prevent the exodus of Serbs from Eastern Slavonia by creating the conditions to allow local Serbs to remain in the region, including provision of funding for the Joint Council of Municipalities, and winning the confidence of the local Serb community and of those outside Croatia wishing to return to their homes". The EU paper says the Croatian government must ensure that the declared national aim of peaceful reintegration and reconciliation is effectively implemented at all government levels, including by local authorities. (hina) ha jn 241233 MET mar 98