MESIC COMMENTS ON VISIT TO MONTENEGRO

ZAGREB, Oct 14 (Hina) - The present situation in Montenegro is similar to the one Croatia was in when it was achieving independence, Croatian People's Party president Stipe Mesic said on Thursday after returning from a four-day visit to the Yugoslav republic. "All Montenegrins I talked to had cheered for the Croatian soccer team (at the Croatia-Yugoslavia match for the European championship of 9 October), out of fear that Yugoslavia's soccer success would be politically used by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's forces," Mesic told reporters in Zagreb. "Everything reminds me of the time when, as Croatia's representative in the Presidency of the former Yugoslav federation, I came to Belgrade. Yugoslavia's central institutions don't function because Montenegro doesn't recognise the Montenegrin representatives Milosevic appointed to federal bodies." Mesic asserted the Yugoslav army on Montenegrin territory was reduced to staying in the barracks, as once in Croatia. He added he had not seen one soldier or officer in Montenegrin streets in the four days he stayed there. Mesic's visit had been organised by the Montenegrin national television. He met Montenegrin People's Party president and Deputy Premier Novak Kilibard. "The situation has drastically changed since the time when half of Montenegro advocated independence, and the other half to stay in Yugoslavia. The Montenegrin government wants to pave Montenegro's path to Europe alone," he said. (hina) ha mm