CROATIA BECOMES 40TH MEMBER OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE

STRASBOURG, Nov 6 (Hina) - Croatia on Wednesday was formally admitted to the Council of Europe as the 40th member. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic presented Council of Europe Secretary General Daniel Tarschys with a document on admission signed by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. After that, Granic and Tarschys signed a statement on Croatia's accession to the Statue of the Council of Europe. The formal admission was marked by hoisting a Croatian flag in front of the European Palace and playing the Croatian national anthem "Our Beautiful Homeland" and the European anthem, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy." The ceremony was addressed by Granic, Tarschys, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, Foreign Minister Siim Kallas of Estonia, and the President of the Parliamentary Assembly, Leni Fischer. (hina) vm 061304 MET nov 96