E.U. COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ADOPTS REPORT ON CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 9795 ) LUXEMBOURG, April 27 (Hina) - The European Union Council of Ministers at Monday's meeting in Luxembourg unanimously adopted a report by the European Commission on regional access by south- eastern European countries, including Croatia. The report concluded that Croatia as well as other countries included in the regional approach had real opportunities to achieve their aspirations to approach the EU. However, "without a clear commitment to and implementation of its obligations under the Dayton and Erdut Agreements, ethnic reconciliation and democratic reform, Croatia is continuing to seriously hamper its chances of realising its European ambitions", said the Commission document, accepted by EU ministers without discussion. The 15 EU countries said that despite positive declarations by Croatian authorities in recent months, "Croatia has not fulfilled the relevant conditions for additional progress in its relations with the Community". This meant that presently Croatia had not fulfilled conditions to allow the lifting of the three-year-old suspension of Croatia's eligibility for the PHARE assistance programme, while discussion on the possible opening of negotiations on a Cooperation Agreement between Croatia and the EU was "therefore also premature". Croatia was expected to increase respect for fundamental human and minority rights as well as show a determination to apply democratic processes. "There are certain key areas where outstanding commitments, had they been implemented in advance of this report, could have altered the conclusions," the report said. "For example reform of state broadcasting (to increase the distance between Croatian Radio Television (HRT) and the government and ruling party, and to open the way to alternative national TV stations); property issues (the much-promised reform of the Law on Temporary Takeover and Administration of Specified Property); refugee returns (where concrete proposals are awaited, and for which there is a long-standing offer of assistance); and clarification of the amnesty law. "The government needs to persuade its own Croatian Serb citizens that they can safely remain in Croatia, without fear of harassment or intimidation; to convince refugees that they can return and remain in safety; to explain to local authorities and individuals that reconciliation must be implemented at all levels - authorities in Zagreb are not responsible for individual acts of harassment or intimidation, but rather for creating/contributing to circumstances in which this occurs (either by act or omission)," the report assessed. It warned that Croatia presently benefited from autonomous trade preferences extended by the EU, but unless the country "makes progress in relation to the relevant criteria, and avoids moving away from the conditionality criteria, the justification of these benefits may be questioned". The European Commission is expected to report to the EU Council of Ministers again on the situation in Croatia at the end of September. (Hina) jn mb /as 271619 MET apr 98