ITALIAN PRESIDENT ADDRESSES CROATIAN STATE PARLIAMENT

( Editorial: --> 9021 ) ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro on Wednesday, the second day of his visit to Croatia, addressed a joint session of the Croatian state parliament's two houses. Europe is counting on Croatia to preserve regional stability, Scalfaro said. "To belong to the European family requires an effort to fully respect principles which inspire the basic documents of major international institutions: the UN charter, the constituent documents of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the European Union", the Italian President said in his address. "These are fundamental principles underlying international relations, peace, democracy, the rule of law (...)", he said. Scalfaro said that "Italy wants to be Croatia's privileged interlocutor", which it already is in politics and economy, and hopes for more intense relations. According to Scalfaro, Italy is proud that the Italian minority in Croatia "put its large spiritual and cultural heritage in the service of building the Croatian state" and facilitated the understanding between the two peoples. Croatian parliament speaker Vlatko Pavletic welcomed the Italian President at the beginning of today's session. Recalling Italy's significant role during the time Croatia was being internationally recognised and later, during Croatia's defence of its independence, Pavletic said Scalfaro's visit came at a time of peace and reconstruction, at the close of a "sensibly and peacefully, democratically implemented reintegration of the eastern part of Croatia." "Of Italy's sensible and visionary policy we expect (in the future) the same understanding and support on our way into European and Atlantic institutions, and hope that Italy's voice in Europe will be heard and accepted more, and that after a reform of the Security Council, Italy will win the role it is rightfully counting on", Pavletic said. Later on, President Scalfaro will hold talks with Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa, to be followed by another meeting with his host, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. The two Presidents will issue a presidential declaration , and are expected to speak about the results of Scalfaro's two-day visit. In the afternoon, the Italian President will visit Pula, northern Adriatic, where he will attend the laying of the cornerstone for an Italian high school building, and will receive representatives of the Italian minority. (hina) ha jn 171334 MET dec 97