AUSTRIAN SOCIAL-DEMOCRATS HAVE POSITIVE VIEW OF CROATIA

( Vidi vijest: 5581 ) VIENNA, Oct 24 (Hina) - The stance of the Social-Democratic Party of Austria towards Croatia has changed to the positive, thanks to the interior stability that has been achieved and to the consistent implementation of the Croatian Danube region's peaceful reintegration, Austrian parliament speaker Heinz Fischer said in Vienna Friday. Fischer answered questions by Austrian and foreign reporters concerning Austria's domestic and foreign policy, stating viewpoints of his Social-Democratic Party, a member of the ruling coalition. According to Fischer, Croatia has confirmed that it is an important military factor on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The situation in Croatia has calmed down and got stabilized after the "Storm" military operation in 1995, Fischer said. Speaking about the Danube river region of eastern Croatia, Fischer said he respected Croatia's efforts in the consistent implementation of the peaceful reintegration, stressing that the Croatian government made significant steps which he assessed as positive. As regarded democratic processes, Fischer said it takes time for them to take root and to adapt to democratic processes in other Western European countries. (hina) ha jn 241651 MET oct 97