POWELL: CROATIA MADE GREAT PROGRESS TOWARD DEMOCRATISATION

ZAGREB, April 19 (Hina) - On the ocassion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Croatia, US Secretary of State Colin Powell said the people and government of Croatia made great progress towards democratisation and regional cooperation, the Croatian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.#L# When the United States and Croatia established diplomatic relations in April ten years ago, ethnic conflicts and war disrupted peace in Southeast Europe, reads a letter which Powell forwarded to the Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula. Ten years after, the prospect of the region is much better, the letter said. The people and the government of Croatia made a great progress in democratisartion and regional cooperation, Powell said. Powell said that terrorism was a threat to ideals supported by the two countries. The Croatian government support and a recent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan will be a great assistance, because Afghanistan is recovering from a great earthquake. This clearly shows Croatias will to support others when needed, and join other countries in supportingh democracy and freedom. the letter says. Powell said the American people appreciated friendhip with the Croatian people. He said he was looking forward to }future diplomatic relations bertween the two countries. (hian) it