CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH EU TROIKA

( Editorial: --> 1768 ) LONDON, March 23 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic described his talks with the European ministerial troika as a "meeting on clearing up some misunderstandings between the European Union and Croatia". Granic met British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, Austria's Foreign Minister Wolfgang Schuessel and Luxembourg State Minister Lydia Err in London on Monday. During the meeting, Granic explained why the meeting between a EU delegation and Croatian President Franjo Tudjman did not take place at the beginning of March, and refuted "wrong perceptions on Croatia's aspirations towards the territory of Bosnia- Herzegovina". He also explained President Tudjman's initiative on demilitarisation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, presented not only for the sake of Bosnian Croats but also with the aim of strengthening the Dayton peace process. The explanation was accepted with interest but the European Union "still could not give its comment", Granic said. The Croatian Foreign Minister also presented Croatia's views regarding its cooperation with the EU. Croatia expects the EU to participate at the forthcoming donors' conference on the reconstruction of the Croatian Danube River region, Granic said. He asked the EU ministerial troika to support Croatia's admission to the PHARE programme. However, time deadlines were not discussed, he added. The EU expects Croatia to consistently fulfil its obligations from the Dayton agreement and to submit a plan of return of refugees, as well as to conduct the process of reintegration of the Danube region in line with the Erdut agreement, Granic concluded. (hina) mm rm /mb 231846 MET mar 98