DIPLOMAT: TIES BETWEEN CROATIA AND U.S.A. GOOD DESPITE DIFFERENCES

WASHINGTON, July 4 (Hina) - Despite different stands on the war in Iraq and the International Criminal Court, the relations between the United States and Croatia are good, Croatia's Ambassador to Washington, Ivan Grdesic, said on Thursday. #L# Croatian diplomats in Washington convened for a working dinner in the Croatian embassy on Thursday at which they met with a score of officials of the State Department, the National Security Council, the Defence Secretary, and the secretaries of commerce and power and of Congress. Speaking about the relations between the United States and Croatia, Ambassador Grdesic said the ties were good and as those between two partners, regardless of different stands on some issues such as the war in Iraq and the recently established ICC. Croatia did not back the American military operation in Iraq and has turned down Washington's proposal for signing a bilateral agreement on non-extradition of American nationals to the ICC. Grdesic said the United States and his country were continuing talks on the conclusion of the agreement on Americans' non- extradition to that court. (hina) ms sb