CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES CROATIA'S ACCESS INTO NATO

WASHINGTON, June 6 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula today met nine ambassadors of the Vilnius Group (V-110) member countries, ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, and the chairman of the American committee for NATO, Bruce Jackson. The talks focused on future joint activities of the V-10 member countries in promoting the interests of every candidate for accessing the NATO. Picula described the talks as very useful, and the functioning of the V-10 Group a unique example of harmonised efforts of countries from the Mediterranean to the Baltic, who are conjoined by the same goal. Entry among ten candidate countries is important for Croatia because through joint lobbying the states can realise their aspirations more quickly, and Croatia can be a valuable member with its internal development and policy. Picula informed his collocutors about political changes in Croatia and the government's stances regarding Bosnia-Herzegovina, Yugoslavia and Macedonia, as well as overall political processes in the region. Picula also held talks with Senator Gordon Smith, an influential republican and former chairman of the subcommittee for Europe. (hina) lml