CROATIAN PREMIER COMMENTS ON RELATIONS WITH UNITED STATES

WASHINGTON, June 7 (Hina) - The United States can rely on Croatia in everything with confidence, as Croatia can count on American support in joining Euro-Atlantic associations, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan said in Washington on Friday. #L# At a news conference at the National Press Club, Racan and Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said that their visit to the US and talks with American officials confirmed the mutual trust and strong alliance between the two countries. Croatia is ready to assume more obligations in promoting democracy and stability in the Southeast of Europe, but in order to do so, it needs adequate institutional ties, primarily, membership in NATO, Racan said. Picula assessed that Croatia had no real chances of entering NATO at the Prague summit this September, but can expect that it be on the top of the list for the third circle of expansion. Racan said that in this context Croatia consented to regional cooperation, but not regional fate. Racan and Picula said that Croatia still have to make progress in reaching NATO standards, complete the army reform and act positively in the region. The two spoke about the dangers for security of organised crime and internal instability of some countries of the region. They said that conflict among countries was not a threat to South- eastern Europe, but internal tensions and conflicts in some states were possible. Asked with what Croatia would contribute to NATO in a military sense, Picula pointed out to the Croatian army's war experience and the country's geo-strategic position. Racan said that Croatia was planning to send a small unit of military police to Afghanistan, along with Germany and some other NATO countries. "We see this as fulfilling a part of our obligations from the Membership Action Plan," Racan said. (hina) lml