EU WELCOMES CROATIAN REFUGEE RETURN PLAN

( Editorial: --> 4470 ) LUXEMBOURG, June 29 (Hina) - Foreign Ministers of the European Union (EU) on Monday welcomed the decision of the Croatian National Parliament to adopt a very good, comprehensive plan on refugee return. The EU also stressed it expected that the plan be implemented wholly and at once. The EU confirmed its wish to take part in a Croatian government- organised conference on the reconstruction and development of the country in view of the plan. The Council of Ministers also expected the Croatian government will present a reconstruction plan in July as announced. The Council will continue to closely follow the situation in Croatia, the EU said, and recalled that the quantity of conditions complied with from a so called regional approach to the EU would condition Croatia's relations with the EU. This combined will provide favourable conditions for strengthening Croatia's ties with the EU, the Council said. Following the adoption of the said programme which complied with the expectations of the EU and other factors of the international community, the Council of Ministers did not discuss previously mentioned sanctions, including the abolishment of export benefits. Speaking about Austria's vision of presiding the EU in the second half of this year, its Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel told the Luxembourg meeting that Austria and Croatia were close countries with a common past and permanently good relations. Difficulties would arise when what we proposed was not accepted in Croatia, he said. "I am very satisfied (and other foreign ministers too) that last week the Croatian government and parliament took a very courageous step by adopting a refugee return programme", Schuessel said. "As the EU we fully endorse it and are especially satisfied that most politicians, as well as the people in Croatia, are behind it", he added. "If the plan is consolidated, if it starts being applied, I am confident of Croatia's future in Europe, of which it has always been part", the Austrian Foreign Minister said. The application of the refugee return programme will represent for Croatia a "great step out of the past towards a European future". (hina) ha 291703 MET jun 98