GRANIC: VISIT TO CZECH REPUBLIC PART OF CRO FOREIGN POLICY STRATEGY

PRAGUE, Jan 22 (Hina) - The visit to the Czech Republic is part of the Croatian foreign policy strategy for this year, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said on Friday after his visit to the Czech capital. Croatia's strategic, economic, and political goals remain the same, he said, explaining they were Croatia's access to the World Trade Organisation and the PHARE programme, as well as approaching the European Union, NATO, and the Central European Free Trade Association. Croatia achieved transparency in its politics, Granic said, and added that foreign policy in 1999 would also focus on solving strategic issues with neighbouring countries. Commenting on talks held with Czech senior officials, Granic said the Czech Republic wished to develop relations with Croatia, and added that Prague today recognised that as its own interest, too. Czech President Vaclav Havel welcomed Croatia's peaceful and democratic development, Granic said, adding Havel was also supportive of Croatia's accessing the WTO. The Croatian Foreign Minister on Thursday met in Prague the UN special rapporteur for human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, Jirij Dienstbier, and talked about the situation in Croatia, including the return of refugees. (hina) it/ha jn