CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER, US SECRETARY OF STATE ON PREVLAKA ISSUE

WASHINGTON, June7 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan and US officials in Washington on Thursday discussed the issue of Prevlaka and the termination of the UN Mission of Observers on Prevlaka (UNMOP). #L# Racan told US Secretary of State Colin Powell that Croatia wanted to solve the Prevlaka issue by the end of this year at the latest. According to Racan, US officials also advocate the solving of this issue and expect Zagreb, Belgrade and Podgorica to reach an agreement. Racan did not wish to speak about the end of the UNMOP mandate in detail. He said he will discuss the issue with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the chairman of the UN General Assembly, Hang Seung- soo. The meeting is scheduled to be held in New York on Wednesday. The Racan-Powell talks focused on issues important for Croatia's security, such as the situation in the region and the continuation of the process of NATO expansion. The two officials also discussed the joint struggle against terrorism. After the talks, Racan told reporters he was satisfied with the fact that US officials recognised Croatia's role in the region and welcomed the development of relations with its neighbours and progress in the democratisation process. The spokesman for the State Department, Richard Boucher, said there were no open issues between Croatia and the United States. He said that the two countries shared similar standpoints on the most important issues. He positively assessed Croatia's relations with neighbouring countries, particularly with Bosnia-Herzegovina, its determination to continue the democratisation process, the establishment of civil society and market economy and Croatia's cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Also present during the talks was Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula. (hina) it