CRO PREMIER, FOREIGN MINISTER HOLD TALKS WITH VAN DEN BROEK

BRUSSELS, Oct 14 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa and Foreign Minister Mate Granic held talks with European Union Commissioner for external affairs Hans van den Broek in Brussels on Monday. The talks mainly focused on Croatia's role as a factor of stability in the region and its relations with the European Union. #L# Croatia played an exceptionally important role in the establishment of security and peace in the region, van den Broek said after one-hour talks with Croatian officials. He added that the talks had also focused on a document on relations between the European Union and south-east European countries, which the European Commission had forwarded to the EU Council of Ministers. Talks on relations between the European Union and Croatia are to take place after the Council of Ministers ended a discussion on the document on EU's "regional approach" in cooperation with countries of south-east Europe, van den Broek said. He expressed hope that the process of Croatia's accession into the Council of Europe would soon come to an end. Matesa said that the Croatian delegation had been assured that the 'regional approach' did not mean a reconstruction of structures from the past, such as former Yugoslavia. With such approach the EU wanted to ensure peace and stability in the region, as well as cooperation among all countries in the region, based on mutual interests. This way, these countries would reach a degree of relations which would be acceptable to the EU, Matesa explained. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic recalled talks on the process of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area. He said the European Union was satisfied with Croatia's role in the process. The UNTAES mandate was expected to expire in accordance with an agreement reached between Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and General Jacques Klein, Granic said. (hina) lm jn 142106 MET oct 96