US EMBASSY DENIES THAT SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN IMPOSED AGAINST CRO

ZAGREB, Aug 31 (Hina) - It is incorrect that the United States Government had imposed sanctions against Croatia, the United States Embassy in Croatia said in a statement on Tuesday. According to the statement, the Secretary of State is required to determine whether sanctions against Croatia should be imposed. "Press reports that the United States Government has imposed sanctions against Croatia at this time as a result of president's McDonalds letters are incorrect", reads the US Embassy statement issued in Zagreb. The Embassy said that Secretary of State Madeline Albright must determine whether provisions of the Lautenberg Amendment now apply to Croatia, considering ICTY President Gabrielle Kirk McDonald's report to the United Nations Security Council last week against Croatia. "According the Lautenberg Amendment, the United States Government is prohibited from providing assistance to a country which is found to have failed to take necessary and significant steps to apprehend and transfer to the Tribunal all persons who have been publicly indicted by the Tribunal", reads the statement. "A review is underway in Washington. While we expect that the review is to be completed shortly, we welcome the opportunity to consider further concrete steps on the part of Croatia to achieve compliance with ICTY's requests", the Embassy concluded. (hina) it jn