RUBIN READS OUT STATEMENT ON REPORTS OF SOME MEDIA IN CROATIA

WASHINGTON, Dec 2 (Hina) - At the beginning of a regular press conference on Thursday, a spokesman for the US State Department, James Rubin, read out a statement, released by the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb previously on that day, which claims that recent charges of some segments of Croatia's media levelled at the U.S. Government and various non-governmental organisations are unfounded. These charges have no basis in fact and merit a firm response, Rubin read out. The State Department's spokesman added that U.S. governmental and non-governmental offices in Croatia were operating complete in the open and helping promote democratic principles. According to Rubin's statement, the attacks by some media are an effort to divert the Croatia public debate from issues of chief public concern, in a pre-electoral period. Rubin declined to expound further the U.S. stand. Responding to two questions asked by reporters about recent allegations of the U.S media that a flat of a U.S citizen in Zagreb was bugged and about break-ins into flats used by two U.S. representatives in Croatia, Rubin said an investigation was under way and it was not appropriate to comment on it now. (hina) ms