ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Thursday expressed complete satisfaction with his visit to the United States which he just ended, as he received full support to the Croatian government's policy during
talks with the most senior American officials.
ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan on
Thursday expressed complete satisfaction with his visit to the
United States which he just ended, as he received full support to
the Croatian government's policy during talks with the most senior
American officials. #L#
Speaking at a news conference held on government premises two hours
after returning to Zagreb, Racan said that the visit confirmed the
partnership between Croatia and the US during the talks with
American officials, from President George Bush and State Secretary
Colin Powell to the president's advisor for national security,
Condoleeza Rice.
"This visit was important for us because we were assured that
nothing has changed in the US relationship towards Croatia, despite
the change in the American administration," Racan said.
He said that the Croatian delegation had been pleasantly surprised
with the interest of American multinational companies to cooperate
with Croatia, stressing that some concrete agreements had been
achieved, but declined to speak about them in detail.
"We are also happy with the brief, but fruitful meeting at the
United Nations, where we spoke about the situation in the region and
Croatia's position in it and received the wanted support for the
policy we are conducting," Racan told reporters.
During talks with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and other UN
officials, the Croatian delegation lobbied for a solution to the
Prevlaka peninsula issue.
"I believe we agreed that Prevlaka is no longer an issue of
conflict, but security," Racan said, explaining that this
eliminated the reason for the UN mission to remain on Croatia's
southernmost peninsula.
A complete solution to the issue depends on further negotiations
between Zagreb and Belgrade, Racan said. He expressed hope that the
UN observers on Prevlaka would be withdrawn completely by the end of
the year.
The premier told reporters that Annan's upcoming visit to Croatia
would help the solution to the Prevlaka issue.
(hina) lml sb