PARTY LEADERS WELCOME CROATIA'S ADMISSION TO COUNCIL OF EUROPE

ZAGREB, 24 April (Hina) - The secretary general of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), Ivan Valent, said that Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe was 'an indisputable success of the Croatian state policy and diplomacy'. Croatia's admission was the best proof of how Europe saw the degree of democracy, the situation of human rights and freedom of media in Croatia, Valent stressed. 'We welcome Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe because it will influence not only its integration into the European economic and political life, but help create a sound atmosphere in Croatia's internal political relations', vice president of the Croatian Social-Liberal Party (HSLS), Jozo Rados said. The president of the Social-Democratic Party (SDP), Ivica Racan, issued a statement in which he warned of commitments Croatia had to meet as a member of the Council of Europe. This included the strengthening of Croatia as a democratic state and the promoting of the freedom of media and tolerance, Racan said. Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe was an important event, Zlatko Tomcic, president of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) said, adding that 'this means that we will have to behave according to the rules of the Council of Europe'. The president of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), Radimir Cacic, said that he saw Croatia's entry into the Council of Europe 'as Croatia's readiness to meet all commitments that the membership in this European organisation included, but also the readiness of the European society to help Croatia take over those tasks'. (hina) rm mm 242216 MET apr 96