GRANIC: CRO GOVT TO RELEASE RECONSTRUCTION PLAN DRAFT THIS WEEK

( Editorial: --> 9314 ) WASHINGTON, July 22 (Hina) - Foreign Minister Mate Granic has announced that the Croatian Government this week will release the first draft of its reconstruction plan, which the international community has placed as a condition for its participation in a donors conference for reconstruction and development set down for October. "The United States of America has promised its attendance and support and we, that means the Republic of Croatia's Ministry for Reconstruction, will this week give our first proposed plan for reconstruction," Granic said in Washington on Wednesday, following talks with US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and American special envoy Robert Gelbard. "We will, together with UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organisation) and openness towards the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe) and other international organisations, work on this plan until the beginning of the conference in the second half of the 10th month this year." Granic assessed that his meetings with US administration representatives showed that relations between the two countries were improving. "Relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Croatia are on the rise," the Croatian Foreign Minister said. "This was one of the better meetings up to now without any pressures (being applied). They were friendly discussions on all issues of relations. "I would additionally say that the Secretary of State made very favourable expressions on the current level of relations between Croatia and the USA and generally on the progress achieved in recent times." Granic added that the talks mostly focused on issues related to Bosnia-Herzegovina, followed by the Croatian Government's refugee return programme, furthering democracy in Croatia and the country's entry into NATO's Partnership for Peace programme. The trial of World War II Jasenovac concentration camp commander Dinko Sakic was also mentioned during the meeting, and Granic said the American side had presented documents from the US National Archives. He also raised the issue of fast-tracking the trial of Croat indictees in The Hague, as well as the failure to bring before justice those responsible for committing crimes against Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Asked if there was mention of changes to the Croatian electoral law, Granic confirmed it was discussed "without going into details". "There was only word that the Republic of Croatia (and) its government does not intend calling elections, no early elections, and, according to that, this question is not very current for us," he said. "We are investigating the electoral laws of other European democratic states and I informed the Secretary of State about this." (Hina) mbr 222315 MET jul 98