EU TO CONSIDER RELATIONS WITH CROATIA AT THE END OF MAY

( Editorial: --> 3083 ) ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - The European Union's Council of Ministers will most likely consider relations with Croatia at the end of May, and for these relations to improve expects words to be backed by actions, especially in the issue of the return of refugee Serbs, said the European Commission's spokesperson, Lousewies van Derlaan, in a telephone report for Hina on Monday. She expects that the situation in Croatia and its relations with the EU will most likely be found on the agenda of the next meeting of the Council of Ministers anticipated for May 25. The EU is closely following the situation in Croatia, especially the issue of Serb refugee return and expects Croatia to stick by its accepted commitments, said van Derlaan. At the previous Council of Ministers meeting on April 27 the European Union, mainly because of the return of Serb refugees, did not allow Croatia to use the PHARE programme and additionally threatened the abolition of trade privileges if the situation does not radically change. After the Croatian Government adopted the most recent document on the procedures for return of refugees to Croatia, including Serbs, relations became tense with the international community and the EU who rejected that paper as being unacceptable. Following these strong reactions from the international community Croatia announced a revision of that document, to bring it into line with the requests which had been made. "The document can be a step in the right direction but we do not want rhetorical changes, but those on the field," said van Derlaan. (hina) mrb/as 111739 MET may 98