CROATIAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT RETURNS FROM STRASBOURG

ZAGREB, April 25 (Hina) - Croatian Parliament president Vlatko Pavletic on Thursday returned to Zagreb from Strasbourg where he had attended a session of the Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly which recommended that Croatia be admitted as a full member. "Croatia's entry into Europe is in fact its return to Europe because it was in such a situation that it had to make a formal request for its admission although it was always part of Europe," Valentic told a press conference. "There is a completely new situation in international relations for Croatia, including a number of new commitments and new rights," he said, stressing that this would pave the way for Croatia's admission to some international funds and its gradual integration into Europe. Speaking of specific requirements set by the Council of Europe, Pavletic said that the pan-European body demanded that Croatia pass an amnesty law for all those who were not suspected of war crimes. He added that another specific requirement was that in the second reading of the law on local government elections Croatia consult European experts on the matter to bring the law in line with European standards. (hina) vm mm 252156 MET apr 96