EUROPEAN INTEGRATION MINISTER LEAVES FOR SLOVAKIA AND BRUSSELS

( Editorial: --> 0087 ) ZAGREB, July 27 (Hina) - Croatian European Integration Minister Ljerka Mintas-Hodak left Zagreb on Monday for a visit to Bratislava where she will meet Slovak Deputy Prime Minister Katarina Tothova, a statement from the government public relations office said. After Slovakia, Mintas-Hodak on Wednesday, July 29 will travel to Brussels, where on the following day she will meet the European Commission's External Relations Commissioner Hans van den Broek. A lunch with high-ranking officials from the European Union Council of Ministers and the European Commission will be prepared for Mintas-Hodak, who is also one of Croatia's six Deputy Prime Ministers. Also present at the talks will be Croatia's Ambassador to the EU, Janko Vranyczany-Dobrinovic. Discussions will focus on relations between Croatia and the EU, and the dynamics of including Croatia in the PHARE assistance programme. Mintas-Hodak will outline Croatia's preparations for institutional links with the EU and inform her hosts with recent steps taken by the Croatian Government, the statement said. (Hina) mbr jn 271352 MET jul 98