NEW YORK, June 11 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan met the chairman of the UN General Assembly, Hang Seung-Soo, in New York on Tuesday, for talks on Croatia's role within the United Nations, particularly the further
development of relations.
NEW YORK, June 11 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan met
the chairman of the UN General Assembly, Hang Seung-Soo, in New York
on Tuesday, for talks on Croatia's role within the United Nations,
particularly the further development of relations. #L#
Croatia advocates such a reform of the UN which will enable this
world organisation to perform its responsible and complex tasks
better and more efficiently, Racan said after the talks.
He told Seung-Soo that the UN can continue counting on Croatia's
participation in peace missions.
"Croatia supports the proposed reforms of the UN and better
connections among (its) bodies," said Racan.
He is to meet Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday. The PM will
explain why Croatia believes that the mission of UN observers
(UNMOP) on its southern peninsula of Prevlaka, which borders on
Yugoslavia, can be completed by the end of this year at the latest.
This issue was the subject of talks between Croatian Foreign
Minister Tonino Picula and Great Britain's Ambassador to the UN,
Jeremy Greenstock, who will chair the Security Council next month
when it is to decide about the UNMOP mandate.
Picula said Croatian and Yugoslav experts were to meet soon and
prepare a joint document on the resolution to the Prevlaka issue
which would then be forwarded to the UN.
The reasons for which the UNMOP was instituted have been removed,
Picula said, adding that Croatia advocated a responsible solution
for the border regime, normalisation of living and
demilitarisation on Prevlaka.
Picula and Greenstock also discussed the activity of the global
anti-terrorist coalition. The British diplomat chairs a special UN
Security Council committee in charge of the implementation of
resolutions adopted after Sept. 11, 2000.
Before leaving Washington on Tuesday morning, the Croatian
delegation met a group of Croatian emigrants who outlined their
proposal for the opening of a Croatian house in the US capital.
Racan supported the initiative, saying it could contribute to the
strengthening of US-Croatia ties.
The Croatian delegation ended it first day in New York with a
reception staged by the Croatian mission to the UN on the occasion
of Croatian Statehood Day and the ten years of Croatian membership
in the UN. In attendance were some 200 diplomats, UN officials, and
other guests.
(hina) ha