COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO DISCUSS CROATIA'S REQUEST FOR MEMBERSHIP ON 2

2 $ 9 MAY ZAGREB, 20 May (Hina) - The Standing Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly will probably meet in Salonica on Wednesday, 29 May, to discuss the status of Croatia's request to be admitted to the Council of Europe as its 40th member, a Council of Europe spokesman said in a phone conversation with the Croatian news agency Hina on Monday. #L# The spokesman Panos Kakaviatos said that the Parliamentary Assembly Political Committee had proposed last week 'an urgent discussion' on the issue. Although it had not been envisaged that the Parliamentary Assembly, which voiced its support for Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe in April, should conduct such a discussion at its spring session, it is possible that the Assembly would include into its agenda an 'urgent discussion on Croatia's request for membership'. 'Usually, the Parliamentary Assembly has urgent discussions on current questions. This is a current issue since the Council of Ministers has decided to postpone Croatia's admission, Kakaviatos said. The Standing Committee, which is chaired by the parliamentary Assembly chairwoman, Leni Fischer, can act on behalf of the Assembly between two plenary sessions. (hina) rm mm 201855 MET may 96