SPECIAL WORKING MEETING OPENS AS PART OF NATO SUMMIT ON KOSOVO

WASHINGTON, Apr 25 (Hina) - NATO and the United States will continue cooperating with Croatia in the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement and the achievement of possible membership in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme, U.S. President Bill Clinton said on Sunday at the opening of a special meeting in Washington taking place as part of a NATO summit. The joint working session of presidents of state or premiers of NATO's 19 member-countries and state delegations of countries bordering the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is focusing on the Kosovo crisis. Opening the meeting, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana expressed gratitude to the assistance, support and cooperation the countries neighbouring Yugoslavia have given NATO in its action against the Serbian regime. President Clinton said the neighbouring countries had exposed themselves to the danger of becoming victims of the Serbian aggression, but pointed out that had not weakened their resolve to support the protection of basic civilisational values. We will help the countries in south-eastern Europe build a better future, the U.S. President said. Both Clinton and Solana said NATO would strengthen and further its ties with the countries in south-eastern Europe. The leaders of all attending delegations, including Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, are expected to express their countries' views regarding the Kosovo crisis, the future in the region, and cooperation and ties with NATO. (hina) ha