EUROPEAN COMMISSION EXPLAINS ITS DECISIONS ON CROATIA'S BID FOR EU

( Editorial: --> 7294 ) ZAGREB, Apr 16 (Hina)- Special Envoy of the European Commission to Croatia, Per Vinther, issued on Thursday a statement explaining yesterday's recommendations by the European Commission regarding compliance of SE European countries, including Croatia, with political and economic conditions for membership in the EU. The conditions were set out by the European Commission in April 1997, as part of its regional approach. Vinther explains that the Commission's general assessment is that Croatia's progress has not matched its commitments, in particular with regard to the Dayton and Erdut agreements. The Commission believes that the Croatian Government has to make additional efforts towards increased respect for fundamental human and minority rights, as well as application of democratic processes, Vinther said next. He added that the Commission expressed concern about freedom of the electronic media in Croatia. The Commission is particularly concerned about the return of Croatian Serb refugees. Therefore it recommends to the Croatian Government to persuade Croatian Serb citizens that they can safely remain in Croatia, as well as to explain to local authorities and individuals that the reconciliation process must be fully implemented, reads the statement by the Special Envoy. The Commission also emphasises that central authorities are not responsible for individual acts of harassment or intimidation, but rather for contributing to circumstances in which this occurs. The Commission concludes that Croatia has the real opportunity to achieve its aspirations towards the European integration, but at the same time it emphasises that without clear commitment to and implementation of its obligations under the Dayton and Erdut agreements, ethnic reconciliation and democratic reform, Croatia is going to seriously hamper its chances of realising its European ambitions. Therefore, reads the statement, despite positive declarations by the Croatian authorities, the Commission considers that, at present, Croatia has not fulfilled the relevant conditions for additional progress in its relations with the Community, in particular the (even partial) lifting of suspension of its eligibility for the Phare programme, or the possible opening of negotiations on co-operation agreement. The final conclusions will be adopted by the Council of the European Union on 27 April, Special Envoy concludes. (Hina) mm mr 162036 MET apr 98