The European Commission fully supports Croatia's aspirations to join the European Union, EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen said during a day-long visit to Zagreb on Thursday 13 November after meeting Prime Minister Ivica Racan.

He commended Racan's government on the reforms carried out so far and stressed that the path should be continued.

He said that the forthcoming elections on November 23rd were critical to this continued reform which would keep the country on route to join the EU.

However, Verheugen stressed that full co-operation with the UN tribunal in The Hague was crucial if membership of the EU was to be achieved.

(NewsBase 17.xi.03)