WASHINGTON, June 6 (Hina) - Croatia rightly expects to widen its political, economic and military cooperation with the United States, and a visit by Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula to that country, which started on Wednesday,
is expected to contribute to this goal. Cooperation in the three fields is what Picula's talks with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, congressmen, diplomats and experts in numerous US institutes for foreign affairs will focus on. Picula will inform his hosts about Croatia's stand on the future development of its democratic institutions, privatisation and economic revival and the principles of cooperation with neighbouring countries. A special goal of the visit is the strengthening of economic ties, which the adoption of a US law on trade benefits for south-east Europe and a bilateral agreement on the avoidance of double taxation are expected to facilitate. Zagreb also wants the political and mili
WASHINGTON, June 6 (Hina) - Croatia rightly expects to widen its
political, economic and military cooperation with the United
States, and a visit by Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula to
that country, which started on Wednesday, is expected to contribute
to this goal.
Cooperation in the three fields is what Picula's talks with US
Secretary of State Colin Powell, congressmen, diplomats and
experts in numerous US institutes for foreign affairs will focus
on.
Picula will inform his hosts about Croatia's stand on the future
development of its democratic institutions, privatisation and
economic revival and the principles of cooperation with
neighbouring countries. A special goal of the visit is the
strengthening of economic ties, which the adoption of a US law on
trade benefits for south-east Europe and a bilateral agreement on
the avoidance of double taxation are expected to facilitate.
Zagreb also wants the political and military presence of the United
States in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo to continue as this is
believed to be the main guarantee of stability.
Croatia expects the United States to continue its support for
Croatia's admission to NATO and aims to make another step toward
NATO's Membership Action Plan (MAP) by the end of this year.
Croatia's recent admission to the so-called Vilnius group - a group
of ten countries-candidates for NATO membership - is a significant
step in that direction. Admission to NATO should also be
facilitated by Croatia's upcoming adoption of a strategy on
national security and laws defining Croatia's adjustment to the
Alliance.
As regards bilateral military cooperation, Croatia expects that
the US will continue providing financial help based on a US law on
the financing of foreign military assistance and other, already
established forms of cooperation.
(hina) rml