DOMLJAN ON STATUS OF CROATIA'S BID FOR COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Salonika, 28 May (Hina) - Speakers at the session of the Political Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly have reiterated their reserves and criticisms regarding Croatia, said Deputy Chairman of the Croatian Parliament in Salonika, Tuesday. On Monday the Political Committee drafted a resolution the Permanent committee of the Parliamentary Assembly will vote on Wednesday. "In a way, the resolution supports the decision of the Council of Ministers", said the president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Croatian Parliament. Mr. Domljan finds the resolution "unusual", considering that the Parliamentary Assembly has already endorsed Croatia's bid on 24 April. On Thursday Strasbourg will host a meeting of a working group for Eastern and Central European countries (GREL), which will draft a new document with four groups of commitments Croatia will have to endorse once the group decides on exact deadlines for their fulfillment. The commitments refer to respect of the Dayton accord, the repatriation of refugees and DPs, freedom of the press and a law on local self-management, explained Domljan. He added the commitments have already been endorsed by President Franjo Tudjman and Chairman of the Parliament Vlatko Pavletic, and are now just accompanied by deadlines for their fulfillment. Mr. Domljan stressed that the group singled out cooperation with ICTY, repatriation of the Serbs that fled during the liberation of the occupied areas of Croatia and the Zagreb crisis. Pending on the Croatian response, the Council of Ministers will decide whether it will convene an extraordinary session and finally decide on Croatia's bid or not, concluded Domljan. (Hina) mr jn 282202 MET may 96