EU WANTS STRONG PARTNER RELATIONS WITH CRO IN LONG RUN - SANADER

( Editorial: --> 7195 ) ZAGREB, Mar 4 (Hina) - Talks at the European Union Council of Ministers and the European Commission have shown that in Brussels there is permanent interest for Croatia, Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader told Hina Wednesday. Sanader Monday headed a Croatian delegation on a working visit to the EU Council of Ministers, the European Commission and NATO. According to Sanader, despite the absence of institutional relations, EU representatives are willing to pursue a continued exchange of opinions with Croatia. Croatia wants to use this to step up dialogue in order to realise contractual relations with the EU, he said. The talks have "confirmed that the EU in the long run wants strong partnership relations with Croatia", Sanader said. "They are a significant indicator that Croatia is in no way isolated from the EU. Dialogue is not just present, it is becoming deeper, and the fact that it is still burdened with the specific situation in the region is a consequence of the extremely difficult situation we have been in over the past years," the deputy foreign minister said. "We are not running away from existing problems, nor do we avoid discussing them with Brussels", Sanader said. He was satisfied with the EU's willingness to "continue closely following Croatia's steps and value our achievements." "The EU's message to Croatia is clear: we want to see you (among us), but you must be aware that our criteria are high," Sanader told Hina. The criteria, he added, the EU is setting "at the moment are not economic, but political and primarily refer to the confirmation of Croatia's role as a factor in, as well as guarantor of, the peace process in the region. This equally refers to the normalisation of the situation in the Danubian region as to a consistent implementation of the Dayton agreement." "In Brussels it is generally believed that Croatia's strategic position is strong, as a country that has come out of the war as the victor with a fully preserved territorial integrity (Croatia) can (...) focus on complying with all conditions for institutionally joining the EU", Sanader said. "European standards are not being imposed on us, we want to reach and fully apply them because we believe it is the right way. Fortifying the rule of law and further democratisation, the building of civil society and the protection of human and minority rights are processes which in Croatia, a country out of war, are well under way, and we will continue encouraging them, as it is in the interest of the Croatian state and all its citizens", the deputy foreign minister told Hina. The issue of the two-way return of refugees is at the top of the list of expectations the Council of Ministers and the European Commission have of Croatia. Sanader thought "this should also be viewed in the context of consequent stimulation of the return to Bosnia-Herzegovina." The Croatian delegation in Brussels pointed out Croatia's determination to enter Euro-Atlantic integrations, Sanader said, adding he believed an agreement on cooperation with the EU could be signed by year's end. "It was unambiguously brought to our attention that the ice could be broken by summer, of course on condition that Croatia fully comply with its commitments regarding the return of refugees, the peaceful reintegration of the Danubian region and the implementation of (the) Dayton (agreement). But, and we must be aware of that, at this moment Croatia remains on trial", Sanader said. He assessed the visit to Brussels brought "the EU's encouraging message that, if it continues to act consistently along the line of its European orientation, Croatia will establish stronger relations with the EU." (hina) ha jn 042123 MET mar 98