ZAGREB, Feb 13 (Hina) - Croatia believes that all means for a peaceful resolution of the Iraqi crisis have not been entirely exhausted. The government once again calls on Iraq to fully and immediately comply with U.N. Security Council
Resolution 1441, reads a document on the Iraqi crisis the Croatian government adopted at a session on Thursday.
ZAGREB, Feb 13 (Hina) - Croatia believes that all means for a
peaceful resolution of the Iraqi crisis have not been entirely
exhausted. The government once again calls on Iraq to fully and
immediately comply with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441,
reads a document on the Iraqi crisis the Croatian government
adopted at a session on Thursday. #L#
The document recalls that Croatia is an active member of the anti-
terrorist coalition and makes efforts to contribute to its
efficiency, especially in the region. The Croatian diplomacy has
been active in bids to ban, control and destroy weapons of mass
destruction.
Croatia has been trying to contribute to the peaceful settlement of
the crisis in various ways, reads the document, noting, among other
things, that the U.N. team of inspectors in Iraq also included
Croatian representatives.
Croatia has joined a number of international initiatives for the
peaceful resolution of the Iraqi crisis. The statement signed by
the foreign ministers of the Vilnius Group represents a form of
additional political pressure on Iraq to make it meet its
obligations from the U.N. Security Council resolution with regard
to cooperation with U.N. inspectors and the annihilation of weapons
of mass destruction, which was the main reason why Croatia joined
the statement in an act of solidarity, reads the document.
"As a NATO candidate and a country which will soon apply for
membership in the EU, Croatia is especially interested in
strengthening the EU's common foreign and security policy. This is
the reason why Croatia joined in the protest note of the EU
Presidency on Iraq of February 4. Croatia hopes that the upcoming
special meeting of the European Council will result in a consensus
on ways to solve the Iraqi crisis. It is equally interested in
maintaining and strengthening the political unity of the Euro-
Atlantic region. Stable relations between the EU and the United
States, i.e. Euro-Atlantic partnership, are the best guarantee of
peace and stability of the international order and efficiency in
combating terrorism. Euro-Atlantic dialogue is necessary because
of the need to consider and control all possible aspects of
resolution of the Iraqi crisis," reads the statement.
Advocating peace and stability in the world and the unavoidable
involvement of the U.N., Croatia still believes that "means of
peacefully settling the Iraqi crisis have not been completely
exhausted". It therefore calls on Iraq once again to fully and
immediately comply with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441. The
government also appeals to the United States, the European Union
and other members of the anti-terrorist coalition to reach the much
needed consensus and unity regarding further measures aimed to
resolve the Iraqi crisis within the U.N. Security Council, reads
the government statement.
(hina) rml sb