WASHINGTON, March 31 (Hina) - Croatia can rightfully expect American support for its admission to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as well as considerably intensified talks on admission to NATO's Partnership for Peace programme,
Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said in Washington on Wednesday. Granic stated this after the first round of talks with special U.S. envoy Robert Gelbard at the State Department today. Giving a short assessment of the meeting, which lasted about 80 minutes, Granic said the talks had been the most successful since those which resulted in the signing of the Washington agreement. The talks focused on the situation in Croatia's immediate neighbourhood. The two officials stressed the need for continuing the coordination of efforts aimed at achieving peace in Kosovo as soon as possible. Gelbard welcomed in principle Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's initiative to organise a meeting of high
WASHINGTON, March 31 (Hina) - Croatia can rightfully expect
American support for its admission to the World Trade Organisation
(WTO), as well as considerably intensified talks on admission to
NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, Croatian Foreign Minister
Mate Granic said in Washington on Wednesday.
Granic stated this after the first round of talks with special U.S.
envoy Robert Gelbard at the State Department today.
Giving a short assessment of the meeting, which lasted about 80
minutes, Granic said the talks had been the most successful since
those which resulted in the signing of the Washington agreement.
The talks focused on the situation in Croatia's immediate
neighbourhood. The two officials stressed the need for continuing
the coordination of efforts aimed at achieving peace in Kosovo as
soon as possible.
Gelbard welcomed in principle Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's
initiative to organise a meeting of high officials from countries
which are Yugoslavia's neighbours and Contact Group member-states.
The only obstacle to implementing this idea could be the situation
within the Contact Group, considering Russia's opposition to the
NATO military operation in Yugoslavia, Granic said.
Croatia has been given the same security guarantees as NATO and
Partnership for Peace member-states, in the event Belgrade
authorities should in any way try to threaten Croatia's security,
the Foreign Minister said.
According to him, talks on Croatia's admission to the Partnership
for Peace programme would accelerate at all levels. The United
States has reiterated the already known preconditions, which
concern only two issues: the election law and the media situation,
he added.
The two officials also discussed the implementation of the Dayton
peace agreements and numerous other political and economic issues
relevant to relations between the two countries.
(hina) rml