CRO. IS PART OF INT. COMMUNITY WHICH CAN INFLUENCE SOLVING OF PROBLEMS IN REGION - PICULA

BUDAPEST, May 30 (Hina) - At a of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAOC) meeting, Croatia was reaffirmed as a part of the international community which can influence the solving of problems in the region, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in Budapest Wednesday. "It has become customary that in declarations adopted after EAPC meetings, the document referring to crisis in the region, Croatia is mentioned only as a part of the international community which can influence the solving of problems," Picula said after the end of the EAPC session. The central topic of the EAPC session, forum which gathers 19 NATO member-countries, was the security in the region. Also invited to attend the session was Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic who spoke of the security and Yugoslavia's fundamental goals in foreign affairs. In his presentation at the session, the Croatian Foreign Minister spoke of the technical aspects of cooperation and Croatia's participation in the Partnership for Peace Programme, as well as attempts to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the United States and other partners. Picula told Croatian reporters that an international military manoeuvre would be held in Croatia next year, however, he did not wish to discuss the matter in detail. In his speech, Picula reiterated that the fundamental goal of the official Zagreb was joining NATO in stages. Assessing the development of the political situation in the region between the Zagreb Summit and the meeting in Budapest, Picula said Croatia initialled Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union, and Macedonia signed the agreement. Picula also pointed to Milosevic's arrest and good chances for his trial before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, and preparation for the signing of free trade agreements for the countries in the region. Speaking of negative sides, Picula pointed to the post-Milosevic crisis which reflect in conflicts in countries, such as the situation in Macedonia and still uncertain development of relations between Serbia and Montenegro as well as social division in countries. According to him, the solution for such situations is integration of countries in the region with European institutions. (hina) it