PM RACAN SAYS CROATIA HAS PROVEN TO BE TRUSTWORTHY PARTNER

TRIESTE, Nov 23 (Hina) - Addressing a plenary session of prime ministers of Central European Initiative countries, Croatia's Ivica Racan said in Trieste, Italy on Friday Croatia's constructive policy towards its neighbours had made it a trustworthy partner to the international community in the promotion of lasting stability in the region. Croatia actively contributes to the efforts of the anti-terrorist coalition, while simultaneously strengthening its own stability and security in the region, said Racan. Croatia supports the all-round efforts in the stabilisation of Macedonia and hopes for a full implementation of the peace agreement, the PM said, also voicing hope Yugoslavia would overcome the current constitutional crisis so as to be able to focus on structural and economic reforms. Talking to Croatian reporters afterwards, Racan said Croatia wished to resume the normalisation of relations with Yugoslavia, but expected "understanding for the fact that it was exposed to the Greater Serbia aggression in the recent past." "It is impossible to expect that our talks and cooperation should skirt this issue," he said. Racan told the Croatian press he held brief meetings with counterparts from the Ukraine, Slovenia, Bosnia, Austria, and Slovakia. He did not meet Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi even though the Croatian side was ready. Racan declined to say why the meeting fell through. Later today, Racan will meet counterparts from the so-called quadrilateral initiative (Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary). (hina) ha sb