ZAGREB, March 16 (Hina) - The changes which have taken place in Croatia represent a step forward for the entire Balkans and are a sign to moderate politicians in the entire region that changes are possible and do bring well-being,
NATO Secretary-General George Robertson said in Zagreb on Thursday.
ZAGREB, March 16 (Hina) - The changes which have taken place in
Croatia represent a step forward for the entire Balkans and are a
sign to moderate politicians in the entire region that changes are
possible and do bring well-being, NATO Secretary-General George
Robertson said in Zagreb on Thursday.#L#
Speaking to reporters after talks with Croatian Premier Ivica
Racan, Robertson said he was delighted to be the first NATO
secretary-general to visit Croatia. The visit is also an expression
of support to the new Croatian government's commitment to effect
democratic changes and co-operate with the international
community, he said.
Robertson expressed satisfaction with the resoluteness of the
government to implement democratic reforms, the return of refugees
to pre-war homes, and the Dayton peace agreements, including, he
said, the arrest and extradition of war crimes suspects.
The international community warmly welcomes it all, Robertson
said, especially commending Racan's statement that "Croatia wants
to be evaluated by its acts, and not words."
According to the secretary-general, NATO is already implementing a
programme of co-operation with Croatia. He could not say when
exactly Croatia would become a full-right member of NATO's
Partnership for Peace programme, but added steps forward would be
made as quickly as possible.
"We are aware that how quickly that will be depends mostly on us,"
Premier Racan told the same press conference. The new government is
fighting for many changes which are not easy because they call for
many sacrifices, especially economic ones, he said. His estimate is
that Croatia will join Partnership for Peace in several months.
Asked about the findings of a NATO assessment mission, in Croatia
since Tuesday, Robertson said the first findings were not very
good.
NATO follows with constant concern the pressure Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic is exerting on Mile Djukanovic, the
democratically elected president of Montenegro, Robertson said in
response to the question whether NATO would react if Milosevic
attacked Montenegro.
Asked if Croatia's tourist season would really be reason enough for
NATO to refrain from attacking Serbia even if necessary, the
secretary-general said NATO did not have hostile intentions either
towards Serbia or its people, unless Milosevic were to do something
against NATO soldiers in Kosovo.
Racan said today's talks did not tackle the implementation of the
Dayton peace agreements. It is a well-known fact however that
Croatia supports them and at the same time is looking for good
solutions for further developing democracy in Bosnia-Herzegovina
(BH).
"I would therefore like to reiterate my idea that the realisation of
the Dayton agreements does not have to be contradictory with, for
instance, the cantonisation of BH, depending on how somebody
interprets the notion of the canton," said Racan.
Racan and Robertson today also talked about Croatia's future co-
operation with the war crimes tribunal in The Hague. Croatia
reiterated it would stick to its obligations in this co-operation,
said the premier.
"In talks with The Hague tribunal however, we shall also try to
establish new forms of co-operation which would be interesting to
the tribunal, but to Croatia as a law-based state as well," Racan
said, adding the authorities would not let war criminals and war
crimes suspects freely roam Croatia.
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