PRESIDENT MESIC HOLDS TALKS WITH OSCE MISSION HEAD IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, June 12 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic today received the head of the mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Croatia, Bernard Poncet, who informed him about the mission's recent report on Croatia's progress in fulfilling international commitments in the past five years. The talks showed Mesic is very well acquainted with the problems we are facing, Poncet said after the meeting. He dismissed an assessment that the newest report represented "a new political pressure" on Croatia, as stated by Vice-Premier Goran Granic. I think the pressure does not originate from the OSCE but rather Croatia's own aspirations to join Euro-Atlantic associations, Poncet said. He added that at the last OSCE news conference the mission recognised Croatia's progress in the fields of media, police work and an overall change of atmosphere, but should also warn when progress does not occur. We base all our reports on facts, not statements. We study laws, administrative provisions ... and we believe the report is objective, Poncet stressed. He expressed understanding for government members feeling disappointed by the report, as they want more progress to be made which would then be recognised, but progress cannot be fabricated. Last week's OSCE report, drawn up at the request of the Croatian government, warned Croatia still has not completely fulfilled assumed obligations, and a part of the report relating to this was made up as a group of instructions the government can use as assistance in determining more clearly its priorities and future goals. The biggest problems mentioned in the report are the sustainable return of Serb refugees, the not so good functioning of the justice system and harmonising of the legislature with the European human rights charter. The OSCE Mission in Croatia was set up in 1996. (hina) lml