US SENATORS SUPPORT CROATIA'S RAPPROCHEMENT WITH NATO

MUNICH, Feb 3 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula met in Munich on Saturday with US senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman, who supported the Croatian government and the country's efforts to join NATO. "They have stated clearly that they support the current Croatian government, not only because of its proclaimed objectives - admission to NATO and the European Union, but also because of what it has done to strengthen regional security, changing the previous policy, primarily towards neighbouring countries, and strengthening democratic institutions in the country," Picula told Hina yesterday. Picula said the US senators conveyed their country's support to Croatia's admission to NATO, particularly its joining NATO's Membership Action Plan. Picula also met German Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping, whom he thanked for Germany's having financed the establishment of the Regional Arms Control Verification and Implementation Assistance Centre (RACVIAC) in Zagreb. Croatia and Germany are currently co-operating on 25 military projects, Picula said, adding the prospect of Germany supporting Croatia's rapprochement with NATO was good. Picula also met his Austrian counterpart Benita Ferrero Waldner, whom he thanked for her personal contribution to speeding up the process of ratification of the Croatia-EU Stabilisation and Association Agreement in the Austrian parliament, which should be completed by late February or early March. (hina) rml