CROATIAN DEFENCE MINISTER HOLDS TALKS WITH US COUNTERPART

( Editorial: --> 8498 ) WASHINGTON, Jan 31 (Hina) - Croatian Defence Minister Gojko Susak on Friday held talks in Washington with the US Defence Secretary, William Cohen and State Department officials about solutions to a number of key issues in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. An agreement was reached during the meeting on the use of Croatia's Ploce harbour on a commercial basis for 30 years. Sovereignty remains Croatian...and everything Croatia wanted is in that plan, Susak said after the talks. Special representative of the US President and State Secretary, in charge of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bob Gelbard, said that the American side had pointed out as a very important Croatian step in Bosnia- Herzegovina the opening of the Croatian consulate in Banja Luka. We think this is very important, Gelbard said. Susak had expressed Croatia's readiness for opening a consulate in Banja Luka, which would be very important, Gelbard said. He added that the American side expected Croatia to get more involved in the issue of the implementation of the Dayton Agreement in Bosnia, now that the UNTAES mandate had been successfully completed. Susak had said that he was prepared to do just that, to focus on the implementation of the Dayton Agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the return of refugees..., Gelbard said. The US side had requested of Croatia its consent for UN monitors to remain on Croatia's southernmost sliver of land, the Prevlaka peninsula. The UNMOP mandate has recently been extended to mid-July, but Croatia has expressed its interest that it end definitely. We believe it is exceptionally important that the UNMOP operation continues in full, Gelbard said, adding that there was no doubt that Prevlaka was Croatian territory, but it was crucial that the UNMOP mission should continue, especially after the election of President Djukanovic in Montenegro. The talks also focused on the military cooperation between the two countries. Croatia asked that the cooperation between the two defence ministries extend to the level of senior officials, Susak said. Talks with Deputy to the US State Secretary, Strobe Talbott, and Bob Gelbard focused on the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, the situation in eastern Slavonia and the permit for Croatia to purchase US weapons, as well as Croatia's aspirations to join the Partnership for Peace programme. We received a green light in everything, in my opinion, Susak said. Asked about Croatia's chances in entering the NATO Partnership for Peace programme, Susak said he expected that it could happen by the end of the year. It depends on us for the most part, he said. The advantage is Croatia's cooperation in the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and SFOR's help in its functioning in Bosnia- Herzegovina, he added. Regarding the purchasing of US weapons, Croatia cannot do so without the 'presidential decision' with which Bill Clinton consents to such a purchase. We had exceptionally positive meetings, Gelbard said, commending the role of the Croatian Defence Minister in the negotiations between the two countries. I deem Minister Susak as an exceptionally important collocator ...He was crucial in the implementation of important parts of the Dayton Agreement, Gelbard said. (hina) lm 311101 MET jan 98