CRO AMBASSADOR TO U.S. HOLDS LECTURE AT STATE DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (Hina) - Croatia's ambassador to the United States on Monday held a lecture at the State Department in Washington called "Croatia, South-Eastern Europe, and Transatlantic Integration". The lecture was held as part of a series organised by the U.S. State Secretary's Open Forum. According to a statement the Croatian Embassy issued on Wednesday, Zuzul's lecture was very well attended. Ambassador Miomir Zuzul said that after the Homeland War, the resolution of post-war issues and the transition to democracy and market economy, Croatia was turning towards the strengthening of a free market and an open, plural society. In that process, the friendly support of the U.S. will be crucial for Croatia, otherwise circles advocating isolationism will find encouragement, Zuzul said. Introducing Croatia's ambassador, the U.S. President's special envoy Robert Gelbard said Zuzul was successful in conveying and explaining Croatia's foreign policy views and had a clear and articulated vision of events in the former Yugoslav federation and on the international scene in the post-cold war period. In his address, Zuzul assessed Croatia was undeservedly placed among the only five European countries not members on NATO's Partnership for Peace. Speaking about the significance the U.S. support had for Croatia's democracy, Zuzul gave a negative assessment of the idea of organising a conference on the southern Balkans. He added that despite such and similar initiatives, Croatia persisted in her belief that partnership with the U.S. and Euro-Atlantic integration were the priorities of its foreign policy. Croatia is aware of its problems and bears in mind the remarks made by the U.S., Zuzul said, and added Croatia would like the U.S. to recognise the positive steps forward Croatia has made in the last years. (hina) ha