GRANIC TALKS WITH MOSCOVIC

( Editorial: --> 9739 ) PARIS, 5 Feb (Hina)- On Thursday Croatian Foreign Minister Dr. Mate Granic talked in Paris with the French Minister for European Affairs Pierre Moscovic. "Croatia is a young developing country and it seems that both parties are interested in strengthening the friendship between our two peoples", said Moscovic after the talks. "The Croatian Government wants to balance its foreign relations, on one hand with its traditional friends Germany and Austria and on the other with France", said the French minister, adding that France was very interested in the process, both in terms of politics and of economics. "Regarding the relations between Croatia and the EU, we discussed modes for the unfreezing of the PHARE programme and negotiations on trade relations with the EU. However, that depends on a unanimous decision by the Ministerial Council upon instigation by the EU commission, which will decide whether all the conditions set up by the Union have been met", said he. "There are still things to be done in that respect, but some things can be done by Zagreb", added Moscovic. In his press statement Minister Granic expressed satisfaction with his talks with Moscovic and reiterated Croatia's firm commitment to closer ties with the European Union. (Hina) jn mr 052012 MET feb 98