ITALY WILL SUPPORT CROATIA'S ACCESS TO THE EU - FASSINO

( Editorial: --> 7336 ) ROME, May 28 (Hina) - Italy will support Croatia in its accession to the European Union, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs under- secretary Pietro Fassino said in Rome Thursday. Fassino received a Croatian delegation, headed by Assistant Economy Minister Neven Mimica, which is taking part in a conference of a mixed Italian-Croatian economic commission. Italy believes negotiations between Croatia and the European Union should begin as soon as possible and should focus on a cooperation agreement, access to the EU and the PHARE assistance programme, Fassino said. He believed Croatia had to start complying with the required political criteria. Then Italy would support the commencement of negotiations between the EU and Zagreb. (hina) ha jn /mbr 281912 MET may 98