CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER RECEIVES BRITISH EMBASSY OFFICIAL

ZAGREB, May 24 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Friday received the deputy chief of the British Mission to Zagreb, Julian Metcalf, who relayed a letter from Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind on British views of the process of Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe, a Foreign Ministry statement said. Granic said that Euro-Atlantic integrations were the Croatian government's top priority and that Croatia did not want its membership to be conditional on the position of other countries in the region. Granic said he believed Britain would show full understanding for the position and positive role of Croatia in the region and Europe. Granic reaffirmed Croatia's commitment to dialogue with the European Union and the Council of Europe to resolve some open issues in line with the Croatian Constitution and legislation. Granic also warned about harmful consequences of some British publications such as "EURO 96" on participants in the European Football Championship. The two officials stressed the need for maintaining a permanent working dialogue to strengthen bilateral relations and help Croatia join European integration processes. (hina) vm jn 241422 MET may 96