CROATIA IS PROVEN AND IMPORTANT ALLY OF U.S.- SENATOR

WASHINGTON, April 22 (Hina) - Croatia is a proven and important ally of the United States and it should be admitted to the Partnership for Peace programme, U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham said in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, ahead of a NATO summit in Washington. The Republican from Michigan believes that Croatia's admission would benefit both countries and help speed up the development of Croatia's democracy. After Slade Gorton, Abraham is the second U.S. senator to suggest to the U.S. Secretary of State that Croatia's admission to the Partnership for Peace be accelerated. Abraham's letter is the result of a recent event, organised by the association of American Croatians (CAA), called "Days of Croatia on the Hill". On that occasion, Croatian representatives asked Congress members to support Croatia's integration into Euro- Atlantic organisations. Senator Gorton announced that he would seek support from his colleagues for Croatia's admission to the Partnership for Peace, adding he believed a joint proposal on Croatia's admission could be forwarded to the State Department in May. (hina) jn rml