Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel told visiting Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader in Vienna on 19 February that his country will support Croatia's bid for EU membership, Hina reported.

Schuessel said the Austrian parliament was the first to ratify Croatia's Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU, adding that Austria will support all Croatian efforts for full EU membership.

He also said, however, that Croatia will have to fulfill a number of unspecified conditions if it wants to join the EU as soon as possible.

Sanader said Croatia hopes to join the EU in 2007.

(RFE/RL 20.ii.04)