OREIGN MINISTER TALKS WITH SPANISH SENATE REPS

( Editorial: --> 3334 ) ZAGREB, May 12 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy foreign Minister Ivo Sanader on Tuesday received a delegation of the Spanish Senate's International Relations Committee. The talks focused on Spain's support to Croatia's accession into European associations, especially the Mediterranean Forum, and on bilateral relations. The Spanish Senate representatives are headed by the president of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Jose Louis Lopez Henares. Sanader informed the Spanish delegation about the situation in Croatia after the successful completion of the UNTAES peace mission, and all steps the Croatian government had undertaken with the aim of expediting the return of refugees and displaced persons. Sanader stressed that the return must be a two-way one, humane, individual and strictly on a voluntary basis, in line with the Dayton Agreement, to whose consistent implementation Croatia gives its full support, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Sanader underlined Croatia's strategic interest of accessing European integration processes, and requested of the Spanish parliamentarians to support Croatia's admittance into the Mediterranean Forum. He stressed that it was illogical for Croatia not to participate in the work of this European institution. Henares expressed Spain's determination to support Croatia in its efforts. Bilateral relations were described as very good, and the participants of the talks stressed there was space for their further strengthening. (hina) lm 121632 MET may 98