NATO SECRETARY GENERAL ARRIVES IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, March 15 (Hina) - NATO Secretary General George Robertson is to visit Zagreb on Thursday where he is to hold talks with Croatian senior officials on Croatia's approaching NATO. Robertson is to meet Croatian President Stipe Mesic, Prime Minister Ivica Racan, President of the parliament Zlatko Tomcic, Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and Deputy Defence Minister Zlatko Galjeric. During his visit to Sarajevo on Monday, Robertson said that the change of authorities in Zagreb created conditions for the improvement of relations between Croatia and the international community, and that there were realistic chances for Croatia's joining the Partnership for Peace programme. A NATO group of experts, which arrived in Croatia on Tuesday, and representatives of the Croatian Defence Ministry are discussing the strengthening of relations between the two parties and a possibility of starting a process of Croatia's joining the Partnership for Peace programme. The NATO group of Experts will end its visit to Croatia by holding talks with Robertson whom they will inform of results of their stay in Croatia. (hina) it jn