INCREASE TO ASSISTANCE FOR CROATIA HAS BEEN MOTIONED -- DOBBINS

WASHINGTON, March 1 (Hina) - The US Government has motioned to the Congress for a US$57 million increase in assistance for Croatia in this budget year. Besides wishing to indicate its support to the new political leadership in Croatia, the US wishes to stimulate the EU, international financial institutions and other countries to provide concrete assistance to political and economic changes in Croatia, special US envoy for South-East Europe, James Dobbins, said in Washington on Wednesday. Dobbins attended a Congress discussion about the effects of recent elections in Croatia, which was held under the organisation of the National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) and with the support of Congressman George Radanovich. Dobbins said the Croatian example should be a message to others in the region about the inability to stop democratic changes, and it is the obligation of the international community to help and support pledged political and economic moves. Congressman Radanovich said the Congress would soon vote on his bill by which the United States would be bound to supporting Croatia's membership in the World Trade Organisation and the Partnership for Peace Programme. The current economic situation in Croatia was concerning to all participants of the discussion. Dobbins said no outside assistance can replace the brave and difficult decisions which Ivica Racan's Government must make as soon as possible. Julius Varallyay of the World Bank agreed with Dobbins, as did Jean Lange, a representative of the US Agency for International Development. (hina) lml jn