ZAGREB, March 19 (Hina) - In an interview for a Croatian weekly, U.S. Ambassador to Zagreb, Lawrence Rossin, said Croatia could expect repercussion in its relations with the US because of its attitude with regard to Iraq.
ZAGREB, March 19 (Hina) - In an interview for a Croatian weekly,
U.S. Ambassador to Zagreb, Lawrence Rossin, said Croatia could
expect repercussion in its relations with the US because of its
attitude with regard to Iraq. #L#
Ambassador Rossin however did not specify what moves the U.S. may
take. Hina tried to check what kind of consequences could be
expected however, following several attempts, no response was made
by the U.S. Embassy.
Asked by a reporter of the Globus paper, about the possible
repercussions of Croatia's decision not to support the war against
Iraq without the prior approval of the UN Security Council, the U.S.
diplomat said he did not know what they (consequences) would be, but
he expressed his confidence that they would occur.
Ambassador Rossin, whose mandate in Zagreb is soon expiring, said
the consequences were inevitable. The diplomat added that in a
matter of war and peace, Croatia's government had chosen to skirt
its responsibility and play a background part.
The U.S. administration has often expressed its dissatisfaction
with the policies in some countries by discontinuing financial
support or freezing loans given by the World Bank and IMF.
In the interview for Globus, Rossin said that he was impressed with
statements made by the Croatian Democratic Union's President Ivo
Sanader who supported the U.S. decision to attack Iraq. Rossin said
he was fascinated with the clear attitude Sanader had taken.
A contrary statement to that made by Rossin regarding U.S.-Croatian
relations, was given on Tuesday evening by Croatia's Ambassador in
Washington, Ivan Grdesic.
As far as Croatia's relations with the U.S. are concerned,
relations are better than ever, Grdesic told Hina in Washington.
Croatia, Grdesic said, is endeavouring to be a member of the Trans-
Atlantic alliance and at the same time, a member of the European
Union.
"We have several times been given assurances that Croatia will not
be compelled to choose sides between the U.S. and EU, and we cannot
do so either," Grdesic said.
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