MESIC: CRO. ARMY-NATO JOINT EXERCISE ISN'T LINKED TO FRY ELECTION

ZAGREB, Aug 31 (Hina) - Croatian President Stipe Mesic told reporters in Zagreb on Thursday there could be no talk about a concrete connection between elections in neighbouring Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and a joint Croatian Navy-NATO exercise. The exercise was agreed on before elections in FRY were called and will be carried out after the elections. President Mesic said it was in Croatia's interest for democratic forces in FRY to win the elections because democratisation in FRY was not possible with the Milosevic regime, which Mesic reminded had sparked four wars and was creating a crisis in FRY's Republic of Montenegro. President Mesic supported a decision under which Croatia was not to appoint an ambassador to Belgrade until further notice, reminding that most western countries had withdrawn their ambassadors to the FRY capital. The Croatian President believes only the charge d'affaires and embassy staff should stay there. Speaking about the so called Chirac Initiative, President Mesic said that according to the assurances he had been given in Brussels, it meant a lot for Croatia. This is a summit which is to take place in Zagreb in November, gathering heads of state of the European Union and countries created after the break-up of the former Yugoslav federation. We are interested in the summit to be held because participants cannot come to Zagreb empty-handed, he explained. (hina) ha jn