ZAGREB, Feb 2 (Hina) - Croatia has proved to be a democratic country in which the former authorities were replaced at democratic elections, and being such a state it will enjoy the backing of the United States, said Drazen Budisa, the
presidential candidate of the coalition of the Social Democratic Party/Croatian Social Liberal Party, after his meeting with U.S. State Secretary Madeleine Albright in Zagreb on Wednesday. Addressing briefly reporters after the meeting at the Zagreb airport, Budisa said new times had come bringing about a positive image of Croatia and this should be used. "A task of our diplomacy, future President and the current Government is to use jointly this favourable moment to strengthen the international standing of our country," Budisa added. He told reporters that Albright, while commenting on the US-Croatian relation, said main contentious issues so far had been the implementa
ZAGREB, Feb 2 (Hina) - Croatia has proved to be a democratic country
in which the former authorities were replaced at democratic
elections, and being such a state it will enjoy the backing of the
United States, said Drazen Budisa, the presidential candidate of
the coalition of the Social Democratic Party/Croatian Social
Liberal Party, after his meeting with U.S. State Secretary
Madeleine Albright in Zagreb on Wednesday.
Addressing briefly reporters after the meeting at the Zagreb
airport, Budisa said new times had come bringing about a positive
image of Croatia and this should be used.
"A task of our diplomacy, future President and the current
Government is to use jointly this favourable moment to strengthen
the international standing of our country," Budisa added.
He told reporters that Albright, while commenting on the US-
Croatian relation, said main contentious issues so far had been the
implementation of the Dayton peace accords, the return of displaced
persons and refugees and the cooperation with the Hague-based
International War Crimes Tribunal (ICTY).
The SDP/HSLS candidate said he had promised to the US State
Secretary that his country would cooperate with the ICTY.
Concerning the return of refugees, psychological barriers,
political and administrative obstacles should be removed, he
added. "Those obstacles will be removed by amendments to certain
laws which some described as discriminatory," he explained.
He added that he had informed the U.S. guest that Croatia would need
international assistance for its recovery. In this context Budisa
pointed to the problem of the southernmost peninsula of Prevlaka
and requested Albright and U.S. Administration to help resolve the
issue soon.
Budisa told reporters about one interesting thing from his meeting
with the U.S State Secretary. On that occasion, Albright wore two
brooches "that presented two balloons rising in the air." According
to Budisa, they convey an optimistic message at the arrival of the
U.S. state Secretary in Croatia.
(hina) ms