CROATIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER MEETS EUROPEAN SOCIALISTS

ZAGREB, Feb 20 (Hina) - Croatian Parliament speaker Vlatko Pavletic on Tuesday received a delegation of Socialist members of the European Parliament, headed by Magdalena Hoff. The main topic discussed was the constituting of local government in Zagreb. "I'm pleased because the talks were open and I think that our guests understood the problem because without understanding it will not be possible for the European Parliament to pass decisions which we expect," Pavletic told reporters after the talks. Pavletic expressed hope that today's meeting would speed up the process of admitting Croatia to the PHARE programme. Hoff said she was hopeful that cooperation with Croatia would be strengthened, adding that the speedier development of democratic mechanisms and respect for human rights would form a foundation for cooperation with Europe. (hina) vm mm 201345 MET feb 96