CRO'S FOREIGN MINISTER GIVES SPEECH AT REGIONAL FUNDING CONFERENCE

BRUSSELS, March 29 (Hina) - The new Croatian government has two strategic goals: complete reintegration into European and Euro- Atlantic structures and long-term stability in the South East of Europe, Croatian foreign Minister Tonino Picula said at Wednesday's Stability Pact Regional Funding Conference in Brussels. #L# On the line of these options the new Croatian government has firmly committed to an active and creative role within the Stability pact, assuming its part of responsibility for the Pact's success in stabilising the South East of Europe, Picula stated. He added Croatia's internal stability was an effective contribution to the security and stability of the South East of Europe. Speaking about a general political approach, Picula asserted Croatia was fully supporting the unseverable ties between the Stability pact and integration into Euro-Atlantic structures. Citing concrete steps of the new Croatian government in processes of necessary reforms, Picula stressed Zagreb had adopted a programme of priority activities of democratisation of the country and the realisation of a complete respect of human rights of all its citizens, including programmes for the return of refugees. According to him, cooperation with neighbouring countries has assumed a high position among government priorities, and Croatia has confirmed its full devotion to the implementation of the Dayton peace accords. I reiterate, we shall not advocate any stance which could in any way be in contrast to the spirit of the Dayton Agreement (...) and Croatia will continue fulfilling its constitutional obligations in providing support to Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina, not through any para-state structures, but via mutually accepted and transparent channels of communication and cooperation, Picula asserted. The government's special task is to create conditions for free, independent and uncensored media. With respect to this, a highly esteemed independent reporter has been appointed as main director of the Croatian Radio and Television (HRT). The new Law on the HRT will take into account recommendations by the Council of Europe and experts of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Croatia's Foreign Minister stated. The Croatian government is determined in securing civilian control over its armed forces and the Defence Ministry is applying the action plan for supplementing transition measures of the Croatian Armed Forces into a modern power compatible with NATO standards. In many situations Croatia has proved its resoluteness in full cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Picula said. He stressed Croatia fully supported endeavours of the international community to realise democracy in Yugoslavia, the lack of which the development of events in Kosovo, Montenegro, Vojvodina and Serbia itself can have damaging repercussions for Croatia and regional stability. In conclusion, Croatia's Foreign Minister recalled concrete projects tabled at this international conference. He accentuated the importance of the programme of voluntary return of 16,500 Croat refugees to Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, which had been drawn up in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, but for which Croatia needed significant financial assistance from the international community, worth US$55.6 million. The Croatian government is firmly determined to undertake the necessary economic reforms with the aim of becoming attractive for foreign investments. We wish for cooperation founded on mutual benefits, not aid, Picula said, stressing that the liberalisation of trade between the region and central European countries and the European union could significantly contribute to spurring this cooperation. (hina) lml jn