CRO DEFENCE MINISTER & NATO COMMANDER FOR EUROPE MEET IN ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 3926 ) ZAGREB, 12 Jan (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak and NATO commander for Europe, General Wesley Clark, held talks in Zagreb on Monday. The talks focused on security in the region and cooperation between Croatia and NATO. After the meeting, Susak and Clark told reporters they had discussed security in the region and Croatia's cooperation with NATO and the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia- Herzegovina. This is the first official visit of General Clark to Croatia. NATO and SFOR primarily expected Croatia to fulfil all obligations it had accepted by signing the Dayton agreement, Clark said. We are thankful to Croatia for the support that was agreed upon in Dayton, said Clark speaking about Croatia's logistical support to SFOR. Asked whether they had discussed Croatia's efforts to join the NATO Partnership for Peace program, Clark said Susak had mentioned that question during the talks but added that NATO had no stand on that issue for the time being. We are aware of Croatia's wishes, he added. Susak said he was feeling well following appendix and stomach ulcer surgery he underwent several days ago. He said he would travel to the United States on 30 January, as had been planned earlier. The purpose of the visit is a meeting with the U.S. Defence Secretary William Cohen. (hina) mm rm 122100 MET jan 98