GRANIC: CROATIA CONDEMNS ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO

( Editorial: --> 2068 ) ZAGREB, March 24 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Tuesday received a delegation of the Albanian Parliament, led by Parliament President Skender Gjinushi, the Foreign Ministry said. Croatian-Albanian relations were described as very good. However, there was room for the improvement of economic and cultural cooperation, the two sides agreed. The strategic aim of both countries is their admission to European political, security and economic associations. Granic informed his guests about the consistency of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and the Government in continuing the policy which resulted in the successful completion of the UN mandate in eastern Slavonia. Croatia would continue to actively support the implementation of the Washington and Dayton agreements. Further stabilisation of the Bosnian peace process was what President Tudjman's idea on demilitarisation of Bosnia-Herzegovina was aimed at, Granic said. Croatia condemned all forms of violence in Kosovo, Granic said, expressing regret over human loss and killing of civilians. Croatia fully supported efforts of the international community and the Contact Group in securing full protection of all human, minority and political rights of Kosovo Albanians, through dialogue between the Yugoslav authorities and the Albanian community in Kosovo. (hina) mm rm /mb 241929 MET mar 98