COSSIGA:NATO AND EU APPRECIATE CROATIA'S CO-OPERATIVE CONDUCT

ZAGREB, April 28 (Hina) - The international community appreciates the balanced and co-operative attitude of Croatia toward the NATO operation against Yugoslavia (Serbia/Montenegro), said a former Italian President and life-time-long senator, Francesco Cossiga, in Zagreb on Wednesday. Cossiga, who ruled Italy from 1985 to 1992, arrived in Zagreb on Wednesday on a one-day visit to Croatia, at an invitation of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to attend a friendly between Croatian and Italian soccer national teams. Everybody in NATO and the European Union appreciates Croatia's balanced and co-operative stand and attitude toward NATO military operation, Cossiga told reporters in the presidential palace in the Croatian capital after talks with Tudjman. Tudjman also gave a lunch for the former Italian President, Croatian senior officials and representatives of the soccer associations of the two countries. I think that the international community can understand that following the conflict and achievement of peace, Croatia will contribute to the balance and stability in the area, Cossiga added. He also said he had come in Zagreb to show his friendship and solidarity with Croatia but also to show that this country can play a peacekeeping role. In 1991 Cossiga was the first president of a state to arrive in Croatia after the country had been internationally recognised. Two years later Tudjman conferred on him the highest Croatian decoration, the Order of King Tomislav. (hina) jn ms