AUSTRIAN OFFICIALS SAY RECOGNITION OF CROATIA WAS RIGHT DECISION

VIENNA, Jan 14 (Hina) - The decision to recognise Croatia and Slovenia as independent ten years ago was the right one, Alois Mock, Austria's foreign minister at the time and incumbent honorary president of the Austrian People's Party, said on Monday. "We acted in our interest by supporting the wishes of the peoples of Croatia and Slovenia, and we did so out of confidence," said Mock. He added Austria had thus not only recognised the legitimate wishes of the two peoples but acted in its interest by advocating stability in its surroundings. Austria recognised Croatia on Jan. 15, 1992, the same day as the 12 European Union members at the time and many other countries. This date is taken as the day of the international recognition of the Republic of Croatia. Erhard Busek, Austria's vice-chancellor in 1992, said Austria had been among the countries keenly advocating the recognition of Croatia's and Slovenia's independence, which he added proved the correct stance. Busek, the incumbent coordinator of the Stability Pact for South- Eastern Europe, said the path Croatia had travelled in the meantime had been tough but brought the country to the point of becoming a candidate for the EU in the near future. Mock agreed Croatia was "on the right path", voicing hope it would join the Union soon. (hina) ha