E.U. WELCOMES CROATIAN GOVERNMENT MOVES FOR REFUGEE RETURNS

( Editorial: --> 6518 ) BRUSSELS, May 25 (Hina) - European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday welcomed Croatia's recent adoption of procedures and documents as the basis for setting in motion the process of refugee returns. Recalling that an assessment of Croatia would depend on its application of those documents in practice, ministers expressed expectations that the Croatian Government in the foreseeable period would accept a clear and comprehensive plan of return. EU ministers added that they expected Croatia to make progress in other important areas such as democratisation and independent media. The EU Council of Ministers also welcomed the European Commission's intention to examine proposals which would allow the Council to discuss, if it considered it suitable, Croatia's status in the trade concessions system at a meeting on June 29. (Hina) mb 252245 MET may 98