WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Hina) - The US press on Monday reports about yesterday's visit of Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld to Zagreb as a sign of support for Croatia's admission to NATO.
WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Hina) - The US press on Monday reports about
yesterday's visit of Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld to Zagreb as
a sign of support for Croatia's admission to NATO.#L#
The New York Times reports that Rumsfeld visited Croatia to support
its efforts to join NATO and give credit to Croatian forces for taking
part in the fight against terrorism in Afghanistan.
The Washington Post reports that Rumsfeld commended Croatia's efforts
to reduce and reorganise its army, thanked for its contribution to the
fight against terrorism, and supported its aspirations to join NATO.
Both papers report that the visit is the first visit of a US official
to Croatia since the visit of former Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright in 2000 and the Croatian Democratic Union's return to power
three months ago.
Both papers also note that the government of Ivo Sanader had accepted
a pro-American foreign policy.
It is also noted that there are still some obstacles in relations
between the two countries.
The Washington Post says that neither Rumsfeld nor Sanader reported
about any progress regarding the US request for Croatia to sign an
agreement on the non-extradition of US citizens to the International
Criminal Court. Another outstanding issue, says the paper, is the
request of the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for
the hand-over of General Ante Gotovina.
The paper also reports that several US officials said they were
encouraged by the first decisions and statements of the new
government, including those referring to Croatian Serbs.
(Hina) rml sb