WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Hina) - Croatian Ambassador in Washington Miomir Zuzul on Friday said it was absurd that the United States and the world as a whole considered Croatia a strategically important partner in Southeast Europe, while at
the same time relations in many fields failed to develop in the wanted direction. Zuzul believes part of the reason was the bad image Croatia and its policy have in the world. Croatia has not paid attention to presenting its real image to the world, the ambassador said. He did not deny the existence of justified reasons for a series of critical judgements, but stressed the positive that was done in Croatia and what Croatia did on the international level had not been valued sufficiently. Zuzul believes the year 2000, and especially the freedom, democracy and fair holding of January elections will crucially affect Croatia's image in the world. He pointed out elections held in
WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Hina) - Croatian Ambassador in Washington
Miomir Zuzul on Friday said it was absurd that the United States and
the world as a whole considered Croatia a strategically important
partner in Southeast Europe, while at the same time relations in
many fields failed to develop in the wanted direction.
Zuzul believes part of the reason was the bad image Croatia and its
policy have in the world.
Croatia has not paid attention to presenting its real image to the
world, the ambassador said. He did not deny the existence of
justified reasons for a series of critical judgements, but stressed
the positive that was done in Croatia and what Croatia did on the
international level had not been valued sufficiently.
Zuzul believes the year 2000, and especially the freedom, democracy
and fair holding of January elections will crucially affect
Croatia's image in the world.
He pointed out elections held in that spirit would determine
whether in the future Croatia will be an active participant in
political and economic processes.
It is important for Croatia to participate in Stability Pact for
Southeast Europe programmes and to influence the contents of that
association, the ambassador said, adding that a series of concrete
and realistic projects should be undertaken to strengthen the
Pact's economic component.
Zuzul said the Stability Pact was Croatia's only real chance to
realise its strategic goals for inclusion into European and Euro-
Atlantic integration.
He announced the Croatian Embassy in Washington would continue with
intensified efforts aimed at helping Croatia join NATO's
Partnership for Peace programme.
If the impending elections are held in keeping with democratic
standards, it is realistic to expect direct U.S. support to
Croatia's access to the NATO programme, the ambassador assessed. He
especially thanked the Croatian community in the U.S. and
congressmen George Radanovich and Dennis Kucinich for advocating
such support.
Zuzul also expects the intensification of U.S.-Croatian economic
cooperation. He expressed the need for wider cultural cooperation,
pointing out the "Croatian Days in Houston" in April or May should
be a special occasion for Americans to learn more about Croatia's
politics, economy, culture, and sports.
(hina) ha