WASHINGTON, June 12 (Hina) - Croatia's positive contribution during the Kosovo crisis and its support and participation in the creation of the Stability Pact in Southeast Europe did not escape notice of United States officials in
Washington, and in this regard the State Secretary's Assistant for European issues, Marc Grossman on Friday expressed the special gratitude of the U.S Administration to Croatian Ambassador in Washington, Miomir Zuzul,. Ambassador Zuzul said his country endorsed the Stability Pact and described it as the best defined document on the political and economic development of the south-east of Europe. For the Croatian diplomat it is very important that the Pact opened up a possibility for interested countries in the region to be fully included into Euro-Atlantic institutions. In this context, achievements of each country on this path will be individually assessed, and it is somet
WASHINGTON, June 12 (Hina) - Croatia's positive contribution
during the Kosovo crisis and its support and participation in the
creation of the Stability Pact in Southeast Europe did not escape
notice of United States officials in Washington, and in this regard
the State Secretary's Assistant for European issues, Marc Grossman
on Friday expressed the special gratitude of the U.S Administration
to Croatian Ambassador in Washington, Miomir Zuzul,.
Ambassador Zuzul said his country endorsed the Stability Pact and
described it as the best defined document on the political and
economic development of the south-east of Europe.
For the Croatian diplomat it is very important that the Pact opened
up a possibility for interested countries in the region to be fully
included into Euro-Atlantic institutions. In this context,
achievements of each country on this path will be individually
assessed, and it is something which Croaia has always advocated,
Zuzul added.
Grossman said the United States fully backed the Stability Pact and
President Bill Clinton would like to be present at the ceremony of
signing of this document.
Ambassador Zuzul handed over to Grossman letters of Croatian
Foreign and Defence Ministers, Mate Granic and Pavao Miljavac
respectively, for US State Secretary, Madeleine Albright.
According to diplomatic sources, Defence Minister Miljavac thanked
Albright for the recent meeting and talks. He notified her of
further plans for the re-organisation of the Croatian Defence
Ministry in accordance with standards of developed democratic
countries.
Foreign Minister Granic wrote in the letter about the entire
progress Croatia had made in some political issues. He informed
Albright about the agreement reached between the ruling party, HDZ,
and the opposition, on amendments to the electoral law and about
agreement in principle on the position of the Croatian Radio and
Television (HRT) as well as about other questions linked with the
forthcoming elections.
At his talks with Grossman, Zuzul reiterated that Croatia was
expecting to enjoy the American support in its bids to enter the
Partnership for Peace programme. He added that Croatia's
participation in the Stability Pact and support to activities of
NATO and the international community aimed at solving the Kosovo
crisis, undoubtedly showed his country's orientation, readiness
and ability to become a Partnership for Peace member-state.
Grossman confirmed that the United States highly appreciated such
orientation, adding that the speed of its approach to Euro-Atlantic
institution primarily depends on Croatia and that Washington would
closely follow all developments in connection with the election and
the media freedom in Croatia.
(hina) ms