ZAGREB, May 15 (Hina) - The visit to the United States was very successful, and it showed once again that the role and conduct of Croatia in attempts to solve the Kosovo crisis was highly appreciated. It proved that the United States
fully supported Croatia's bids to enter Western associations, particularly the Partnership for Peace Programme, said Croatia's Defence Minister Pavao Miljavac upon his arrival at the Zagreb airport on Saturday when he returned from the United States where he had been on a three-day official visit. "Croatia will not enter Western associations in any package, our country has an open possibility of the speedy entrance into the Partnership for Peace, on condition that it continues solving problems which it has started settling," Miljavac said adding that the talks in the United States focused particularly on the problem of the electoral system in Croatia. The United St
ZAGREB, May 15 (Hina) - The visit to the United States was very
successful, and it showed once again that the role and conduct of
Croatia in attempts to solve the Kosovo crisis was highly
appreciated. It proved that the United States fully supported
Croatia's bids to enter Western associations, particularly the
Partnership for Peace Programme, said Croatia's Defence Minister
Pavao Miljavac upon his arrival at the Zagreb airport on Saturday
when he returned from the United States where he had been on a three-
day official visit.
"Croatia will not enter Western associations in any package, our
country has an open possibility of the speedy entrance into the
Partnership for Peace, on condition that it continues solving
problems which it has started settling," Miljavac said adding that
the talks in the United States focused particularly on the problem
of the electoral system in Croatia.
The United States knows well that it (problem) is being solved in a
good manner. Deadlines for the admittance into the Partnership for
Peace have not been set, but we can conclude from the visit and talks
that we are near that programme, the minister said.
During his stay in the United States, Miljavac held meetings with
his U.S. counterpart, William Cohen, State Secretary Madeleine
Albright, the U.S. special envoy for the Balkans, Robert Gelbard,
the president of the Congressional armed forces committee, John
Warner, and visited the West Point military academy where four
Croatian cadets are now being trained.
According to the Croatian official, the talks with Cohen and
Albright revolved around the security situation in the area, the
Kosovo crisis and Croatia's admittance to the Western
associations, whereas Miljavac and Gelbard considered the
operational parts in the implementation of the Dayton Accords, and
the integration within the Croat-Moslem Bosnian Federal Army.
Miljavac said that t U.S. President Bill Clinton's recent decision
to allow Croatia to import American defence equipment was also
discussed during his meetings with his American hosts.
In America we have left a sort of list of our priorities. This
primarily refers to the provisions of the complete equipment for
the combat simulation centre of the Croatian army, liaison, and for
the control of our air and sea space, Miljavac said.
He denied some allegations and articles which had appeared before
his visit to Washington that the Croatian delegation would discuss
some swap of territories and the installation of American rocket
systems. There was no mention of that, nor were there demands on
this matter, the Croatian minister stressed.
(hina) ms