MUNICH, Feb 8 (Hina) - Supporting the Vilnius Group's statement, Croatia made its contribution to the political pressure exerted on the Iraqi regime so that the UN Security Council's resolution could fully be implemented and that a
war might be avoided, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula told Croatian reporters after he met U.S. Senator John McCaine on the margins of a security conference in Munich on Saturday.
MUNICH, Feb 8 (Hina) - Supporting the Vilnius Group's statement,
Croatia made its contribution to the political pressure exerted on
the Iraqi regime so that the UN Security Council's resolution could
fully be implemented and that a war might be avoided, Croatian
Foreign Minister Tonino Picula told Croatian reporters after he met
U.S. Senator John McCaine on the margins of a security conference in
Munich on Saturday. #L#
"I believe that there is still political room for a peaceful
solution of the Iraqi crisis, but the prospects for such solution
are slimmer than a month ago," the Croatian minister assessed.
Commenting on the "conflict" of opinions of the U.S. Defence
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and German Foreign Minister Joschka
Fischer, which was obvious at their speeches on Saturday morning,
Picula said the disagreement of two allies showed that it was
necessary for the global political and security system to be
reformed.
He also said that once the Iraqi crisis was solved, the United
States and the European Union would also have to talk about their
future alliance.
At the talks with the American senator, the Croatian minister
informed him that Zagreb contributed to the stability of south-
eastern Europe and was taking part in the anti-terrorist coalition.
Picula requested Washington's support to Croatia's bids to enter
NATO.
Picula also met his Estonian counterpart Kriistina Ojuland on the
margins of the international conference in Munich.
(hina) ms