PARLIAMENT HEAD: RELATIONS WITH HUNGARY AT HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL

BUDAPEST, Nov 11 (Hina) - Relations between Croatia and Hungary are at the highest possible level and can be called genuine strategic relations, Croatian Parliament President Zlatko Tomcic said in Budapest on Monday after talks with his Hungarian counterpart Katalin Szili. #L# The talks were held at the beginning of Tomcic's two-day official visit to Hungary. "There are no open questions between Croatia and Hungary. Our political relations are at the highest possible level and we can rightfully call them strategic," said Tomcic, who is on his third official visit to Hungary as Parliament President. "We have identified the need for Hungary and Croatia to continue building stability, security and peace in the region through bilateral relations," he said. Hungary's Szili said her country was willing to share with Croatia its experience in drawing closer to Euro-Atlantic associations. The talks tackled bilateral relations, including the construction of a Budapest-Rijeka highway and a bridge over the Mura River, Szili said, adding that those topics would be discussed at Tomcic's talks with Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs on Tuesday. Tomcic thanked Szili for Hungary's support to Croatia in integration processes and cooperation in regional and international associations. He said the two sides would also discuss their joint interest in protecting the rights of Hungarian and Croat minorities in the two countries, as well as the need to regulate the border regime before the Schengen agreement took effect. Asked by Hungarian reporters about Croatia's admission to the European Union, Tomcic said Croatia would submit a membership application next spring and expressed hope the country would be ready to join the EU in the second expansion round. Tomcic will today also meet Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Elemer Kiss and representatives of the Croat minority. (hina) rml