ZAGREB, July 2 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Wednesday received a letter of credentials from the newly-appointed U.S Ambassador to Zagreb, Ralph Frank, the Office of the President said in a statement.
ZAGREB, July 2 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on
Wednesday received a letter of credentials from the newly-
appointed U.S Ambassador to Zagreb, Ralph Frank, the Office of the
President said in a statement. #L#
According to the statement, Mesic voiced confidence that
Ambassador Frank would be a good interpreter of Washington's policy
and that he would be capable also of relaying to the U.S.
Administration "the stands of our authorities and of explaining the
background of this or that political decision," Mesic said.
He added that his country was heading towards European integration
and did not neglect cooperation with other countries, either.
Mesic said he could not accept statements that the Zagreb-
Washington relations were tense or that they could be deteriorated
by differences in stands. According to Mesic, both sides have many
reasons for promoting bilateral relations which are also now
basically good.
Recalling that the United States had been with Croatia at each step
which it had taken since its independence, Ambassador Frank said
the American support could be seen today in its firm support to
Croatia's bids to draw closer to the European Union and NATO and in
significant investments in Croatia's future.
In this context, the American diplomat recalled that Washington had
to date secured over 280 million dollars to support Croatia's
reforms in the economy, armed forces, judiciary, mine clearance,
the recovery of war-stricken areas and the strengthening of civil
society, the statement read.
The newly-appointed ambassador said that regardless of recent
controversies between the two countries, the future of bilateral
ties lay on firm foundations which could not be shaken.
He added that Croatia actively supported the global war against
terrorism and played a role of a stability factor in the region.
The ambassador also commended Croatia for its progress in bids to
integrate itself into Euro-Atlantic institutions and warned that
still much remained to be done so that Croatia could complete its
democratic transformation which began in January 2000.
According to him, open issues relate to the return of Croatian Serb
refugees and their tenancy rights, Zagreb's cooperation with the UN
war crimes tribunal at The Hague and the complete normalisation of
relations in the region.
The American ambassador Frank, who succeeded the previous
ambassador Lawrence Rossin, voiced hope that until the end of his
term in Zagreb in 2006, Croatia would be at the threshold of
entering into the EU and NATO.
The newly-appointed U.S Ambassador Frank was also received by
Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula.
(hina) ms sb