WASHINGTON, May 6 (Hina) - The Croat American Association (CAA) on Wednesday and Thursday attempted to initiate the founding of a Croatian Club in the U.S. Congress which would support Croatia's joining NATO and the return of Croat
refugees to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
WASHINGTON, May 6 (Hina) - The Croat American Association (CAA) on
Wednesday and Thursday attempted to initiate the founding of a
Croatian Club in the U.S. Congress which would support Croatia's
joining NATO and the return of Croat refugees to Bosnia-Herzegovina.#L#
CAA members gathered at the annual Croatian Days on Capitol Hill to
ask U.S. Congressmen to become members of a possible future club which
would be comprised of friends of Croatia.
The main objective is to found a Croatian club of Congressmen
interested in joining which would advocate Croatia's joining NATO, CAA
president George Rudman told Hina.
Another objective is the support for the return of Croat refugees to
Bosnia, he said.
The club would be led by a Congressman of Croatian origins, Thadeuss
McCotter from Michigan.
Rudman cited an unnamed senior US official who said the Bush
administration continued to insist that Croatia sign an agreement on
the non-extradition of Americans to the International Criminal Court.
Rudman said there was a connection between the expected U.S. support
to Croatia for joining NATO and the U.S. wish that Croatia sign the
said agreement.
Rudman also said the US was not providing military aid to Croatia at
the moment due to Croatia's refusal to sign the said agreement. He
added that should the country sign the agreement, the U.S.
administration could provide significant assistance in the training of
the Croatian Army in the process of adjusting to NATO standards.
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