CROATIA ACHIEVED PROGRESS IN DRAWING CLOSER TO NATO - ROBERTSON

ZAGREB, March 31 (Hina) - The Croatian Armed Forces have achieved great progress towards membership in NATO, the alliance's Secretary-General, George Robertson, said in Zagreb on Monday after a meeting with Croatian President Stjepan Mesic. #L# Robertson spoke with Mesic about the progress achieved in the reorganisation of the Croatian Armed Forces, the war in Iraq, and the situation in the region, especially in the wake of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's assassination. "A lot of progress has been made by Croatia in satisfying the standards laid down for membership of NATO, and the Armed Forces of Croatia are making determined efforts to reach the standards that would allow them to integrate within the NATO Armed Forces," said Robertson. He said Djindjic's assassination would affect the entire region. Although it is not involved in the conflict in Iraq, NATO is searching for ways how to help its member, Turkey, Robertson said. "There are divisions in the UN, EU, and NATO about how Saddam should be disarmed. NATO's priority at the moment is to provide defence for Turkey, one of the NATO-countries that is next-door to Iraq." (hina) lml sb