CROATIAN GOVT OFFICIALS MEET WITH MONTGOMERY, HAAK AND GULDIMANN

ZAGREB, May 21 (Hina) - The highest officials of the Croatian Government headed by Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on Friday met with US Ambassador William Montgomery, his German colleague Voker Haak and OSCE mission to Croatia chief, Tim Guldimann. The meeting held in Zagreb dealt with the most critical report to date issued by the OSCE mission regarding the level of advancement by Croatia in fulfilling its international obligations. The most recent "Progress Report", issued by the OSCE which covers the period from January to May 18, notes a stagnation and worsening of events with regard to Croatia fulfilling its international obligations. Although Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa "was critical of the negative conclusions contained in the report, he however, expressed hope for a more fruitful level of cooperation in the future. Premier Matesa proposed concrete recommendations to improve the level of cooperation with the mission which were welcomed", an OSCE press release following the meeting said. On Thursday, the Croatian Government assessed the report as insufficiently argumentative and one-sided. The Government expressed its regret that prior to the report the usual consultations between the Croatian Government and international representatives, were not held. The main topic of Friday's meeting attended by Prime Minister Matesa, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Mate Granic, Deputy Prime Minister and European Integrations Minister Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, along with members of the Government's office for cooperation with the OSCE and the Office for Displaced Persons and refugees with the international representatives were the mechanisms of cooperation, operations methodology of activities and communication methods between the OSCE and the Government. The aim of the meeting was to avoid further reports prior to consultations with Croatian authorities, high ranking sources in the Government Building reported. The actual contents of the OSCE report were not discussed on this occasion. The Croatian side on Friday offered international officials a response to the OSCE report in the form of a "White Book" containing positional documents on the talks with the OSCE which covers a complete review of all that Croatia has done to fulfil its international obligations from January to May this year. The period referred to in the last "Progress Report". Sources close to the Government reported that dialogue between the OSCE and the Croatian side were extremely vital. Next week, in addition to regular consultative meetings with international officials, an operations meeting is to be held at the assistant ministers level. The meeting is to be the forum to discuss the methodology of the OSCE's future activities as well as a discussion of all contentious issues including the contents of the Progress Report and the White Book. The international officials did not wish to comment on the meeting held at St. Mark's Square, with the exception of Ambassador Guldimann who evaluated the meeting as "positive". This too was Foreign Minister Granic's evaluation as well, expressing his "satisfaction" with the talks.