COSIC & ZUZUL ADDRESS CONFERENCE ON NATO & SE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

WASHINGTON, Apr 27 (Hina) - Croatia's Deputy Defence Minister Kresimir Cosic and Ambassador to the United States Miomir Zuzul on Tuesday addressed an international conference on NATO and south- eastern Europe in Washington, speaking about Croatia's view of the Kosovo crisis, its roots, and possible solutions. NATO is seeking answers to questions how to prevent future crises like the present one in Kosovo and how to find a long-term solution to the status of countries in south-eastern Europe, Cosic said. One of the answers must undoubtedly be the development and strengthening of preventive diplomacy and preventive defence, he pointed out. On the last day of the Washington conference, Cosic suggested that a world conference on preventive diplomacy and defence should be organised in Dubrovnik, southern Croatia, possibly next spring. The deputy defence minister said the consequences of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's Greater Serbia policy could have been foreseen way back in 1991, and even earlier. That however, he added, did not prevent Milosevic from repeatedly surprising the international community. Cosic said NATO countries should focus more on collecting and analysing data on movements in the region, which will enable them to better understand possible crises and conflicts. He also advocated a more expansive inclusion of countries in the region in the resolution of crises. Speaking about the Kosovo crisis, Ambassador Zuzul said it could not be resolved without a certain and resolute victory on NATO's part. A lasting solution must be sought on the trail of what NATO did for western European countries 50 years ago, he said, including a kind of Marshall plan to achieve adequate economic development, while simultaneously strengthening democratic institutions by accepting the countries in question into European and Transatlantic integration. (hina) ha