EUROPEAN INTEGRATION MINISTER ENTERTAINS DIPLOMATIC CORPS

( Editorial: --> 9090 ) ZAGREB, April 23 (Hina) - Deputy Prime Minister Ljerka Mintas-Hodak held her inaugural reception as Croatia's European Integration Minister on Thursday. She told the gathered diplomatic corps that her role and the role of the newly-founded Office for European Integration would be to facilitate the adoption of European standards for all walks of Croatian life. Mintas-Hodak stressed Croatia's determination to be integrated into European institutions and that its ultimate goal was full membership in the European Union. She added that the Office would try to establish close cooperation "with all relevant national and international bodies that could help it realise that goal". "All of us are convinced that Croatia, just like other countries that have not yet joined the EU, are committed to the EU. Our role is to help those countries to carry those plans through," British Ambassador to Croatia Colin Munro told the newly appointed minister on behalf of Britain, which currently holds the EU Presidency. Munro stressed the international community was aware of Croatia's successes and problems, in particular regarding the return of refugees. He noted that international interest in that matter should be defined as "care" and not as "pressure", which had been wrongly used here in that context. (Hina) mr /mb 232243 MET apr 98