PRESENTATION OF BOOK: "DOSSIER BALKAN AND CROATIA"

( Editorial: --> 5908 ) ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - The book "Dossier Balkan and Croatia - Military Aggression in the Former Yugoslavia - prospects for the future," by the former Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister of Austria, Alois Mock, was presented in Zagreb on Friday. The book was published this year by the Croatian Institute for History and Croatian University Press, in the "Witnesses to History" series. "Dossier Balkan and Croatia" is an analysis of causes of conflict in an artificially created state - Yugoslavia - and its disintegration, which displeased some of its creators, said Nikola Ruzinski, one of the members of the editing council. Mock defined that conflict - often described as a mere clash or put down as a civil war - as a military aggression, said Ruzinski. In addition to a strong impulse to name the true aggressor, I was also motivated by the common past Austria shared with Croatia, moral solidarity and Austrian interests, said Mock. He said the consequences of clearly expressing his views on the war were not always easy to take. The same yardstick should be used for all, and that includes Bosnia- Herzegovina, where the Dayton agreement must be implemented, but Croats should not be blamed alone for the difficulties in its implementation, said Mock. "I am certain that Croatia will become a part of Europe and will nurture democratic principles to which it is committed. I am optimistic, in spite of European scepticism, that Croatia will soon also become a member of the European Union," said Mock. Present at the book presentation were Croatian high officials, including Foreign Minister Mate Granic, Austrian Ambassador to Croatia Rudolf Bogner and numerous representatives from political and cultural life in Croatia. (hina) jn mrb/as 221955 MET may 98