WOLFGANG SCHUESSEL'S POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS OF CROATIA

VIENNA, Nov 23 (Hina) - Austrian Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel on Monday expressed his satisfaction regarding his visit to Zagreb over the weekend where he participated in the Summit of the Central European Initiative. "My impressions of Croatia were very positive", Minister Schuessel, who is currently chairing the Council of Ministers in the European Union, told HINA. "I held very good and constructive talks with President Tudjman and my discussion with Foreign Minister Granic showed that our attitudes are identical", added the head of Austria's diplomacy. The PHARE programme should be accessed to Croatia as soon as possible as should ways of support to reconstruct the country Schuessel said, reminding that the EU expected Croatia to conduct internal reforms to election procedures, the judiciary, freedom of the press and refugee returns. "Movements are heading in a positive direction and the ruling party and opposition are of the same opinion of the need for cooperation on the road to accession to the EU for the benefit of its people", he said. Schuessel is attending a two-day meeting of representatives of national parliaments of the EU and European Parliament being held in Hofburg, Austria, with parliamentary representatives of countries in the running for accession to the EU. (hina) sp