"ALPE-JADRAN" WORK COLLECTIVE MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

ZAGREB, Dec 11 (Hina) - The "Alpe-Jadran" work collective on Friday marked its 20th anniversary at the Croatian Foreign Ministry building in Zagreb. "Twenty years ago, Croatia was one of the seven founders of the 'Alpe-Jadran' work collective," Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said. He recalled that membership in the collective was at the time Croatia's only institutionalised possibility for developing international cooperation. "Alpe-Jadran" gathers 19 members from seven countries in the Central European, Adriatic, and Danube River area. Established in Venice on November 20, 1978, its main function is to stimulate development through inter-regional cooperation. The work collective enjoys the status of advisory body at the Council of Europe. "At the very start of the Serbian aggression, the members of the work collective agreed with Croatia and Slovenia in their endeavours and fight for gaining independence and international recognition," said Granic. "From 1978, the Croatian language has been one of five official languages used in the work collective," he added, pointing out that was a "specific aspect" which had remained unique in Croatia's international cooperation in Europe. (hina) ha jn