ROBERT GELBARD HOLDS TALKS WITH 'OPPOSITION SIX'

ZAGREB, April 19 (Hina) - Special US President's envoy for the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, Robert Gelbard, held talks in Zagreb on Monday with representatives of six Croatian Opposition parties known as the "Opposition Six" about the relations between Croatia and the United States, as well as about NATO's operations in Yugoslavia. Representatives of all parties came to the meeting: Vlado Gotovac of the Liberal Party (LS), Zlatko Tomcic of the Croatian Peasant's Party (HSS), Radimir Cacic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), Zlatko Tomac of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Drazen Budisa of the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) and Emil Soldatic of the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS). "Relations between Croatia and the United States are regular, meaning Croatia is showing to be a good partner in the sphere of military cooperation, and as regards the rest, the issues of democratisation of the country and the electoral law remain open," Gotovac said after the meeting. We have established that relations between Washington and Zagreb are improving, Budisa said, adding the Opposition endorsed Croatia's expedite accession into the Partnership for Peace programme and NATO. Gelbard said the United States were not giving up on their requests for Croatia, but Croatia does deserve to enter the Partnership for Peace, Budisa said. "Relations between Washington and Zagreb were described as positive, but we pointed out all contentious issues in these relations, that is, requests of the international community towards our country, which are the democratisation of political life, the return of refugees and displaced persons, and the implementation of the Dayton Agreement," Budisa said. The second part of the meeting focused on the military aspects and aim of NATO actions in Yugoslavia, the decision of US President Bill Clinton to allow Croatia to purchase military equipment and arms, and the visit of Croatian Defence Minister Pavao Miljavac to the NATO command for Europe. It was once again verified that the Opposition's policy towards Bosnia-Herzegovina and the democratisation of the country was correct, Tomac, adding the opposition was very satisfied with talks with Gelbard. "We are satisfied that the Americans have expressed gratitude to the Croatian people for the support we give (to the NATO action in Yugoslavia) because we think it is a just and necessary action and because it is in Croatia's interest for the greater Serbian policy to topple in order that Serbia could be democratised," Tomac said. (hina) lml