CLINTON CALLED TO SPEED UP CROATIA'S ENTRY TO PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE

WASHINGTON, July 30 (Hina) - An appeal on the Clinton Administration to help and accelerate Croatia's admission to the Partnership for Peace Programme was again expressed in the U.S. Congress. Croatia deserves that recognition for its unequivocally shown wish to go the side of the United States and the West, and Croatia's support to the NATO policy on the Balkans testifies to this, said Congressman George Radanovich at a session of the House of Representatives. Radanovich reiterated the assessment that Croatia fulfilled all necessary conditions for the Partnership for Peace, particularly in the military sector, and exceeded countries which had already joined the programme in many things. In March, Radanovich and the American Croat community will continue lobbying the Congress to help Croatia to approach speedier European and Transatlantic associations. A letter, forwarded to U.S. President Clinton, read that expectations of the further democratisation of Croatia are justified, but Croatia has undoubtedly already taken that path. The letter mentioned results in the return of refugees and displaced people and Croatia's support to the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. Radanovich stressed that the principle of separately grading the achievements of each country must be uphold within the Stability Pact, as it is the basic condition for the Pact's successfulness. The United States has to support its allies, such as Croatia, in the volatile European south-east area, he wrote in the letter. (hina) ms