ZAGREB, April 2 (Hina) - The current political situation has confirmed Croatia's correct strategic orientation as regards its foreign policy, a vice president of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) party, Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, said in
Zagreb on Friday. Mintas-Hodak addressed a press conference on Croatia's brisk foreign activity, with emphasis on a visit by Foreign Minister Mate Granic to the United States. In his talks with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Minister Granic confirmed Croatia's support for NATO actions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and its interest in a political solution so that permanent peace could be established as soon as possible, since it is a precondition for the stability of the whole region, Mintas-Hodak said. The Unites States has reaffirmed its support for Croatia's efforts to enter the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as soon as possible, as well as f
ZAGREB, April 2 (Hina) - The current political situation has
confirmed Croatia's correct strategic orientation as regards its
foreign policy, a vice president of the Croatian Democratic Union
(HDZ) party, Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, said in Zagreb on Friday.
Mintas-Hodak addressed a press conference on Croatia's brisk
foreign activity, with emphasis on a visit by Foreign Minister Mate
Granic to the United States.
In his talks with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright,
Minister Granic confirmed Croatia's support for NATO actions
against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and its interest in a
political solution so that permanent peace could be established as
soon as possible, since it is a precondition for the stability of
the whole region, Mintas-Hodak said.
The Unites States has reaffirmed its support for Croatia's efforts
to enter the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as soon as possible, as
well as for accelerating talks on Croatia's admission to the
Partnership for Peace programme.
Granic and Albright have agreed that the situation in the Croatian
banking system is normalising, and the US supports Croatia in the
announced talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
World Bank on favourable loans.
In a discussion about the election law, the US side did not have any
major objections to a draft section of the election law drawn up by
an expert group, which refers to a special Diaspora list, Mintas-
Hodak said.
After Easter, Croatian parties will hold a meeting to discuss the
draft.
The Granic-Albright talks also tackled Croatia's cooperation with
The Hague-based international tribunal for crimes committed in the
former Yugoslavia, and Croatia's positive role in implementing the
Dayton Peace Accords.
The United States has expressed support for Croatia in solving the
issue of Prevlaka, its southern-most peninsula to which Yugoslavia
has territorial pretensions. The United States has also supported
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's initiative on a meeting of the
so-called first-line countries, which are in the immediate
neighbourhood of Yugoslavia.
It was assessed during the talks that Croatia had made positive
steps in the return of refugees and displaced people.
The trial of Dinko Sakic is being conducted in a correct and
objective manner, it was said.
All this points to the fact that Croatia's orientation, strategy-
wise, is good and that the country has demonstrated maturity in a
complicated situation, shared by all countries surrounding
Yugoslavia, Mintas-Hodak said.
(hina) jn rml