ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - The decision of the United States to lift an embargo on Croatia's purchase of U.S. arms and defence equipment has a great military and political significance. This means that Croatia is eligible to buy
defence articles in the United States as well as to receive the U.S military assistance, said Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Saturday evening after he returned from America. In an interview during the Croatian Television's flagship news programme, Granic explained that in order that a country may be deemed eligible to receive the U.S. assistance, it should meet both political and military criteria. On Friday, U.S. State Department Spokesman James Rubin said President Clinton had determined that Croatia was eligible to be furnished defence articles and services under the Foreign Assistance and Arms Control Acts. The speed of making this decis
ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - The decision of the United States to lift
an embargo on Croatia's purchase of U.S. arms and defence equipment
has a great military and political significance. This means that
Croatia is eligible to buy defence articles in the United States as
well as to receive the U.S military assistance, said Croatian
Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Saturday evening after he returned
from America.
In an interview during the Croatian Television's flagship news
programme, Granic explained that in order that a country may be
deemed eligible to receive the U.S. assistance, it should meet both
political and military criteria.
On Friday, U.S. State Department Spokesman James Rubin said
President Clinton had determined that Croatia was eligible to be
furnished defence articles and services under the Foreign
Assistance and Arms Control Acts.
The speed of making this decision was certainly linked with the
Kosovo crisis, although relevant factors had been working on it for
some time, Granic said adding that his country had conducted itself
as a partner and ally of the United States whenever it was very
important.
He cited the Washington and Dayton accords as well as activities of
the Croatian Army in Bosnia-Herzegovina on the grounds of the Split
Agreement as proof of Croatia's cooperation.
Granic stressed that a fortnight ago Croatia's state leadership
with President Franjo Tudjman had decided immediately to support
NATO operations in Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro).
Croatia's Ambassador to the NATO has been invited to all meetings of
countries in the first line, Granic said adding that the United
States and the NATO decided to guarantee security to his country in
case of Yugoslavia's retaliation, although Croatia is capable of
defending itself.
Granic announced that he and other foreign ministers of the
countries in the first line (in the neighbourhood of Yugoslavia)
had been invited to attend a working dinner with U.S. Secretary of
State, Madeleine Albright, on Monday.
You can see that the United States and the NATO are treating Croatia
as if we are already a member-state of the Partnership for Peace,"
Granic said.
The Croatian-American relations have strongly been ascending, he
said.
Asked about other topics of the talks he led in the United States,
the Croatian minister answered that they had also discussed an
accelerated entry of Croatia into the Partnership for Peace
programme, and the negotiations on the issue would be intensified
next week.
According to him, there are realistic expectations that Croatia may
be admitted to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) this year.
At the moment, the United States is the biggest foreign investor in
Croatia, he said adding that his country enjoyed the American
support in the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The two countries also consider many other bilateral issues,
concluded the minister his interview.
(hina) ms