CROATIA'S ENTRY INTO COUNCIL OF EUROPE IMPORTANT EVENT -TARSCHYS

STRASBOURG, Nov 6 (Hina) - Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe as its 40th member is an important event, Council of Europe Secretary General Daniel Tarschys said at a ceremony in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Every country which joins the Council of Europe assumes very serious obligations not only towards other member countries but also towards its own citizens, Tarschys said. Croatian friends are not newcomers to the Council of Europe. The parliamentary delegation and observers from Croatia have participated in the Council's activities for several years, he added. Tarschys noted that the Council of Europe had so far been involved in many forms of cooperation and assistance to Croatia. He said that Council of Europe membership did not only mean concrete obligations but also possibilities for Croatia to take an active part in the joint European project. At the end of his address, Tarschys recalled that the procedure of Croatia's accession had not been easy and emphasized that confidence must be restored. The admission of Croatia to the Council of Europe is an important step in this process, he said, welcoming Croatia's determination to defend and promote the principles of European cooperation. (hina) vm jn 061344 MET nov 96