CROATIA BELIEVES OSCE MISSION IN DANUBE REGION IS USEFUL

( Editorial: --> 8102 ) VIENNA, 29 Jan (Hina) - Croatia believes in the beneficial role of Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) monitoring mission in the Croatian Danube region, a follow-up on the UNTAES's mission which wound up on 15 January, Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Drobnjak told the Permanent Council of the OSCE in Vienna on Thursday. Drobnjak said the OSCE mission could help the Croatian Government to further strengthen security in the reintegrated area, bolster all Government institutions and normalise life in the Croatian Danube region. Emphasising the importance of economic revival and the return of displaced persons and refugees, Drobnjak invited the OSCE to contribute by mobilising the international community so that its financial support could help in the recovery and reconstruction of this war devastated Croatian region. In his closing remarks Drobnjak emphasised that Croatian cooperation with the OSCE mission confirmed its orientation towards European integration and its wish to be confirmed as an active factor in the building of Europe's security structure. The presentation by Croatia's representative was well received by the OSCE Permanent Council, which expressed satisfaction with the good start of its monitoring mission in the Croatian Danube region and its good cooperation with the Croatian Government and the readiness of Croatia to continue its active role as a factor of peace in the region. The Croatian delegation today also held several working meetings with ambassadors of foreign missions at the OSCE and with the OSCE General Secretary, which dealt with technical and organisational issues and the present political and security situation in the wider region. (Hina) jn mb 291901 MET jan 98