BRUSSELS: CROATIAN, NATO OFFICIALS HOLD TALKS

BRUSSELS, May 8 (Hina) - Croatia might meet conditions to join NATO in two years' time if it perseveres with reforms, primarily on the political, economic, and military fronts, Defence Minister Zeljka Antunovic said after a NATO-Croatia meeting in Brussels on Thursday. #L# Evaluations of achievements in the realisation of the first Annual National Plan made at the meeting ranged from "noted" to "impressive", said Antunovic, adding the remarks that were made referred to insufficient cooperation between state ministries and agencies. Antunovic said she agreed with the assessments, stating she "would like for the reforms that are underway to be understood as state reforms and not reforms of individual ministries". Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said the meeting was good and that the realisation of the first Membership Action Plan cycle was "given more than a passing grade". Croatia is expected to persevere in familiar issues, such as the justice system reform, cooperation with the Hague war crimes tribunal, and refugee returns, he said. The Croatian delegation acquainted NATO with the efforts Zagreb was making towards resolving the issue of ethnic Serbs' returns. Picula said Croatia was commended for cooperation in the region. NATO officials voiced hope Croatia would continue being politically and economically active in the region. "Croatia is expected to continue being proactive in the region in light of the fact that... Southeast Europe is far from consolidated," he said. NATO officials hoped the election year in Croatia would not disturb the processes which had been initiated and that reforms would not be brought into question. (hina) ha sb