IRELAND SUPPORTS CROATIA ON ROAD TO EU - PM AHERN

ZAGREB, March 12 (Hina) - Ireland supports and will support Croatia on its road to the European Union and is willing to help it with advice and by drawing from experience, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said in an interview with Croatian Radio to be aired on Saturday.#L# Ireland has and will always support Croatia, not only during its presidency of the EU but also after, he said. Asked if it was realistic to expect that Croatia would join the EU in 2007, together with Bulgaria and Romania, Ahern said it was too early to talk about dates. The first important step for Croatia is the European Commission's opinion of its EU membership application, expected later this month, Ahern said, adding that Ireland had extended its full support in this respect. Croatia and Ireland have good economic and political relations which can be enhanced considerably even before Croatia joins the EU, said Ahern. He also voiced confidence Croatia would not have to wait for the other countries in the region to become an EU member. Ahern said the further enlargement of the Union, after the upcoming admission of 10 new members from Central and East Europe, was inevitable. EU development will not be halted, he said. It might slow down from time to time but it cannot be stopped, he added. (Hina) ha sb