CRO PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE

( Editorial: --> 0715 ) STOCKHOLM, June 12 (Hina) - President of the Croatian National Parliament, Vlatko Pavletic, addressed participants at the Conference of Presidents of European Parliamentary Assemblies, which started on Friday in Stockholm. Pavletic said that the idea of statehood has been upheld by Croatians in a significant measure thanks to the continuity of the people's representation. He said that the transition of Croatian society has evolved under difficult war conditions but a legislative foundation for the state has nevertheless been created with the help of Western European experts. This foundation measures up in all aspects to the situation and practice in member-states of the Council of Europe and the European Union. During the first part of the conference Pavletic already had a chance to make contact with a number of colleagues. He confirmed an agreement with the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Leni Fischer, to visit Zagreb at the end of June and maybe Vukovar and Dubrovnik. The final aim of the conference, Pavletic believes, is to confirm the determination of the parliaments to commit to the development of democracy. On Thursday evening Pavletic visited the Croatian Embassy in Stockholm and met with eminent representatives of Croatian associations in that city. (hina) jn bag/rml 121700 MET jun 98