C.E.I. EXEMPLIFIES SUCCESSFUL REGIONAL COOPERATION - GRANIC

GRAZ, Nov 8 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Friday addressed a meeting of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in Graz. "The consolidation of the Central European Initiative as an integral group of countries notwithstanding their current status with regard to the European Union, and deepening of cooperation in various fields, exemplify successful regional cooperation in Europe," Granic said. He said that the CEI "has the option of growing into a n association directed toward the stabilization of this part of Europe." Granic went on to say that Croatia "accepted the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian region, and in cooperation with the UN Transitional Administration does its best to support the successful and as quick as possible reintegration of the area into its legal system." "The economic cooperation within the Central European Initiative, and the support of the member states for the Republic of Croatia in the process of joining CEFTA, are an impetus for the transition process in which Croatia remains close to the Central European countries," he said. Speaking of "the human dimension of security and stability in the region," Granic said that Croatia "was among the first signatories of the CEI Minority Protection Instrument," adding that after Croatia's admission to the Council of Europe "an even more extensive cooperation between the two organizations is possible in the field of human rights, as well as the introduction of mechanisms for the prevention of conflicts and tensions." Croatia "considers the development of cooperation between the CEI member states and NATO through the "Partnership for Peace" as a way to build an integral Euroatlantic security system," Granic said. (hina) vm mm 081850 MET nov 96