FOREIGN MINISTER ANNOUNCES POSSIBILITY OF ALBRIGHT VISIT

( Editorial: --> 4196 ) ZAGREB, Aug 17 (Hina) - American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright could arrive in Croatia at the end of August following her official visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic told reporters in Zagreb on Monday that Albright had already agreed to visit Bosnia at the end of the month, but it could be expected she would also visit Croatia and thereby confirm the improvement in relations between Croatia and the United States. Several months ago bilateral relations had cooled because the US was dissatisfied with shortcomings in the return of Serb refugees to Croatia, but they have warmed again since Croatia adopted a return programme at the end of June. At the last Albright-Granic meeting at the end of July in Washington, Croatia confirmed its obligation to facilitate the return of Serb refugees, implement the Dayton accords and build a democratic and civil society, while the US promised to support Croatia's access to Euro-Atlantic integration processes with NATO's Partnership for Peace programme as a first step. If Albright visits Zagreb, she will discuss with Granic themes from the Washington talks and advances made in carrying out what both countries had promised. "The most important thing is to maintain this continuity and ascent in relations with the USA," Granic told reporters. Sources at the American Embassy in Zagreb said that nothing had been confirmed officially, but it was possible Albright could visit Croatia at the end of August. (Hina) mbr 172006 MET aug 98