PICULA MEETS U.S. REPORTERS AND FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS

NEW YORK, Sept 14 (Hina) - Croatia is undergoing a period of extended transition and it can accomplish its foreign policy's goals - the full membership in NATO and the European Union - only if it is completely democratised and if it offers constructive contribution to the stability of south-eastern Europe, Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula said in New York on Thursday. On the margin of the UN General Assembly's 55th annual session which he is attending, Tonino Picula met reporters of a few U.S. newspapers and foreign policy experts from New York and Washington. Picula informed his interlocutors of the process of democratisation and changes in the foreign policy of Croatia which have happened since the six-party coalition took power in the country in January. Commenting on the relations with Croatia's neighbours and on the developments in the region, Minister Picula said that it was always much easier to make agreement with countries with the democratic values and attitudes. Croatia would like to have normal ties also with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro) but it is impossible as long as there is an undemocratic regime in Belgrade, Picula said. Asked about the possible outcome of the forthcoming elections in Yugoslavia (set for 24 September), Picula predicted that three kinds of development were possible - the start of democratic processes, Milosevic's increasingly tightened grip on power, or political chaos. Asked about the possibilities that Belgrade would attack Montenegro, Picula said he did not believe that Milosevic would carry out open aggression against Montenegro but that he would probably try to stir up internal unrest against the democratic forces in that republic. The Croatian Minister feared that in case of new conflict at least 200,000 refugees from Montenegro would move towards Bosnia- Herzegovina or Croatia. Asked whether the current U.S.-Croatian military exercise on the sea could be treated as a signal for Belgrade, Picula said the show had been agreed upon a few months before and was being conducted within the Partnership for Peace Programme, but the United States also explicitly warned Milosevic not to plunge into yet another war. Asked about Croatian Serb refugees, Croatian Minister said there were no political obstacles for their return. However, they have the right to decide whether to come back or stay (where they are now). A speedier process of return has been thwarted by social and economic problems, or by the issue of mine removal, he explained. Picula reminded the U.S journalists and experts that this year Croatia, together with the UNHCR, was implementing a programme of the return of 16,500 persons and that his country fulfilled its commitments in relation to the agreement it had concluded with the Bosnian Serb entity on the return of 2,100 persons. He emphasised that the return of Croats to their hometowns and villages in Bosnia was proceeding very slowly. At the end of the talks Picula spoke of the activities of the former Yugoslavia's four successors in view of their insistence that Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro) must undergo the equal procedure, as they have done, to become a UN full member. (hina) ms