ZAGREB, Feb 18 (Hina) - United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Friday invited Croatia's President Stipe Mesic and Premier Ivica Racan to visit the U.S. before June, and promised the U.S. would help Croatia in any way
it could. Albright earlier today attended Mesic's inauguration in Zagreb, and in the evening held a joint press conference with the newly-elected president and prime minister.
ZAGREB, Feb 18 (Hina) - United States Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright on Friday invited Croatia's President Stipe Mesic and
Premier Ivica Racan to visit the U.S. before June, and promised the
U.S. would help Croatia in any way it could.
Albright earlier today attended Mesic's inauguration in Zagreb,
and in the evening held a joint press conference with the newly-
elected president and prime minister.#L#
The inauguration is another big step for Croatia, Albright told
reporters after a two-hour working supper with Mesic and Racan.
Assessing her talks with the two Croatian officials as useful and
important, the U.S. secretary of state said she was impressed by the
enthusiasm of the Croatian people.
The working supper also tackled international assistance to
Croatia, the return of refugees, the implementation of the Dayton
peace agreement, and cooperation with the war crimes tribunal in
The Hague.
Albright said she tackled the same issues with Archbishop of Zagreb
Josip Bozanic earlier today, pointing out Bozanic had been the
voice of ethnic harmony and tolerance in this region for many
years.
Commenting on her talks with representatives of the Serb
opposition, Albright voiced hope to go to Belgrade soon to
celebrate democratic changes as she had done in Zagreb today.
Today is a great day not only for Croatia, but for the entire region,
the U.S. secretary of state asserted.
Asked about future Zagreb-Sarajevo relations, Albright said
Croatia's new president had clearly stated today Croatia would no
longer assist remnants of Herceg-Bosnia, but support a multi-
ethnic Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Albright labelled Croatia a partner country advocating its place in
Euro-Atlantic integration. She promised the U.S. would increase
its annual assistance to Croatia from US$12 million to US$20
million, and announced the opening of a trade development
assistance office.
Asked when she expected Croatia's new government would fulfil its
promises, Albright said a lot of work awaited the ambitious new
authorities, because they have to make up for the past decade. She
pointed out however this was the reason she was so impressed by the
government's enthusiasm and desire to succeed as soon as possible.
Albright also said she had many contacts with European ministers
over the past couple of weeks, pointing out she assured them of the
importance of Croatia's access to the World Trade Organisation.
"Croatia has been recognised as a country opening its doors to the
U.S. and the EU," Croatian President Mesic told the same press
conference, adding "the doors are opening from the other side as
well."
"Croatia is advocating direct foreign investment since they are
more profitable than loans," he asserted.
Croatian Premier Racan said Croatia's geopolitical position was
not a handicap but an advantage because "Croatia is aware of its
role in the region which should be stable and peaceful, a region of
cooperation. This makes today important for Croatia as well as for
the friendly relations between the U.S. and our country, which we
want to continue strengthening."
According to Racan, U.S. state secretary Albright's second visit to
Croatia in three weeks "is an expression and confirmation of the
freidnship and strengthening of U.S.-Croatian cooperation."
(hina) ha