CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTERE RECEIVES EU REPRESENTATIVES

ZAGREB, May 4 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic today received representatives of the European "Troika" (German, France and Spain), led by French Anbassador Jean-Jacques Gaillarde, Croatian Foreign Ministry said. EU representatives informed Granic of the contents of a EU Declaration on the latest develpoments in Croatia. They expressed their concern over the police and military action in western Slavonia and the attacks on Zagreb and other Croatian cities. They welcomed yesterday's agreement on the cessation of hostilities. EU representatives also informed Granic that the negotiations on the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with Croatia were to continue, but that the progress of negotiations would depend on the development of the situation on the ground. Granic explained the reasons which prompted Croatia to carry out the action aimed at securing traffic on the Zagreb- Lipovac highway and the railway. It was a response to typical terrorist actions - the killing of innocent civilians and taking of hostages - which any sovereign state would condemn and respond to. Croatia was committed to peaceful reintegration and continuation of the peace process and it guarranteed to all Serb ethnic group members all civil rights and protection on the whole of its territory, Granic stressed. (hina) mm rm as 041500 MET may 95