AMBASSADOR HOLDS LECTURE ON CROATIA'S FOREIGN POLICY IN VIENNA

VIENNA, March 20 (Hina) - Croatia's Ambassador to Austria, Drazen Vukov-Colic, held a lecture on Croatia's foreign policy following election changes at the Vienna Diplomatic Academy on Tuesday evening. At the beginning of his lecture, entitled "Croatia's Foreign Policy After Election Changes - From Isolation to Europe's Lobby", Vukov Colic recalled the role of Austria and Alois Mock in the establishment of independent Croatia. "The overall democratisation of society and politics and rapprochement with European associations are the main goals of Croatia's policy," he said. Speaking about relations with neighbouring countries, the ambassador said, "Croatia has condemned the proclamation of Croat self-rule in Bosnia-Herzegovina as an act leading into isolation and opening new conflicts with the international community, in which Croatia too, regardless of its innocence, will not be able to avoid consequences." Croatia will do all it can to carry out legal, economic and social reforms by the end of 2006, with the aim of entering the EU, the ambassador said stressing the country's support for regional cooperation. Last night's event was organised by the Institute for the Danube- basin area and Central Europe in cooperation with the Danube- European Institute, the International Vienna Council and the Austrian-Croatian Society. (hina) rml