RELEASED US SOLDIERS ARRIVE IN CROATIA

BAJAKOVO, May 2 (Hina) - Three US soldiers apprehended by Yugoslav authorities, James Stone, Andrew Ramirez and Steven Gonzales, were released and entered Croatia from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at 10.30am Sunday. The soldiers were captured by Yugoslav troops on March 31 in the area between FRY and Macedonia. American clergyman Jesse Jackson accompanied the soldiers into Croatia. The liberation of these three American soldiers is the first step towards a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Kosovo, Jackson told reporters at the Bajakovo border crossing. We must use this moment to establish peace in Kosovo, Jackson said. We are proud of these three US soldiers because they remained collected the entire time and maintained their self-respect and dignity, he stressed. Asked by reporters when they found out they would be released, James Stone said they had found out on Saturday. Commenting on the conditions in the Serbian prison, Stone said one of the guards had treated them well. He added he had received a black eye during their apprehension which was rough, as he said. He added they could not communicate among themselves during the whole time they spent in the prison. After the news conference, and holding hands, the three soldiers, Jesse Jackson and his escort headed for Zagreb by busses from where they will fly to Germany to a US military base and then off to the United States. Deputy to the US Ambassador to Croatia, Charles English, expressed satisfaction with the release of the three soldiers and thanked Croatia for receiving them. (hina) lml