RACAN: NATO IMPORTANT TO CROATIA ALSO BECAUSE OF VALUES IT PROMOTES

ZAGREB, April 25 (Hina) - Croatia's strategic interest is to enter not only the European Union but NATO as well. Zagreb does not aspire toward joining NATO only because of collective security but also because of the values NATO promotes, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said at a meeting with the NATO Commander for Europe, US General Wesley Clark, in Zagreb on Tuesday. According to a statement from the Government's public relations office, the two sides stressed the Croatian state and army had so far cooperated with NATO, however, their cooperation should be improved. General Clark assessed that Croatia had made significant progress in the political and military fields. The international community is encouraged by the progress which is visible in the work of the Croatian Government, its programme, and its commitment to a good cooperation in the region, Clark said, congratulating the Government on its efforts in fighting organised crime and corruption. The meeting also tackled the obligations Croatia still has to fulfil, the situation in the region, and particularly Croatia- Bosnia-Herzegovina relations. Attending the meeting were also First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic, Defence Minister Jozo Rados, and Foreign Minister Tonino Picula. (hina) mm rml