CROATIA EXPECTS A THAW IN THE PHARE PROGRAMME

( Editorial: --> 9184 ) BRUSSELS, 3 Feb (Hina) - We hope that 1998 will be the breakthrough year for improving relations between the European Union and Croatia, and the frozen PHARE programme will start again, said Zarko Domljan, the chairman of the Croatian delegation, on Tuesday following a meeting with a European Parliament delegation in Brussels. Consensus exists among all political parties in Croatia that our objective is to join the EU, Domljan said, adding that a formal written request should be sent to the EU which clearly indicates Croatia whether to join Europe or not. Domljan expressed hope that Croatia would send such a letter of intent by 15 March. The European Parliament's delegation chairwoman Doris Pack also expressed hope that a freeze in the PHARE programme for Croatia would be lifted. The European Parliament is prepared to break the ice for a thaw in the PHARE programme before the European Commission releases a report on the situation in Croatia on 15 March, which could influence a final decision by the EU, Pack said. The PHARE programme is an initiative of the EU which includes financial aid to partner countries from central and eastern Europe for bolstering economic transformation and strengthening democracy. The aim of the program is to help partners to reach a level where they will be ready for full partnership in the EU. (Hina) jn mb 032233 MET feb 98