ZAGREB, March 25 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa commented on events in connection with NATO air strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) during Thursday's session of the Government. Croatia has always
supported and does support endeavours of the international community that lead toward peaceful solutions of problems in neighbouring countries. Due to the crisis situation in those countries, Croat is suffering big economic and other damage. This perception of Croatia as a country in a crisis area is very harmful in the medium-term , since we are denied a possibility of distancing ourselves from the situation and preparing for the normal European development, said the Premier. The Croatian public is not always sufficiently aware that Croatia is exposed to consequences of the international perception of our country as being in a crisis area, Matesa added. Croat
ZAGREB, March 25 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa
commented on events in connection with NATO air strikes against the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) during Thursday's session of
the Government.
Croatia has always supported and does support endeavours of the
international community that lead toward peaceful solutions of
problems in neighbouring countries. Due to the crisis situation in
those countries, Croat is suffering big economic and other damage.
This perception of Croatia as a country in a crisis area is very
harmful in the medium-term , since we are denied a possibility of
distancing ourselves from the situation and preparing for the
normal European development, said the Premier.
The Croatian public is not always sufficiently aware that Croatia
is exposed to consequences of the international perception of our
country as being in a crisis area, Matesa added.
Croatia is a member-state neither of the Partnership for Peace nor
of the NATO. However, today it shares not willingly the fate of
those (member-) countries, in connection with the NATO action.
The Croatian Government asks the United States Administration to
express clearly its stand on guarantees for Croatia, as it did for
all member-countries of the Partnership for Peace and the NATO. It
is unjust that the guarantees cover Croatia due to the situation
imposed on our country, Matesa complained.
The Croatian Government demands that the air corridor from the
country toward Slovenia should be open. As air traffic links
between the southern and northern Croatian areas are of the vital
interest, the closing of airports for a longer time would be
untenable, Matesa said.
We would like to believe that the NATO military action against
Yugoslavia would be swift, but we must prepare for a longer period,.
the Premier concluded.
(hina) ms