( Editorial: --> 9121 )
ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - The United States Ambassador to Croatia on
Friday spoke on Voice of America radio about the Croatian plan on
continued reconstruction, and this week's resignation of Croatian
Defence Minister Andrija Hebrang.
Speaking about Hebrang's resignation, Montgomery said the U.S.
policy could be termed neither pro- nor anti-Hebrang. We do not
support individuals, but their policy, he said.
The fact remains that Hebrang did support changes in the Croatian
Defence Ministry, and these were changes that we advocate as well,
Montgomery said.
He added the question was whether the new defence minister would
focus on reforming the ministry, and whether he would have the
President's and others' support in doing so.
If changes prove impossible, this will significantly affect our
relations with the Croatian army, the U.S. Ambassador said.
The U.S. has had very good cooperation with the Croatian government
in recent months, Montgomery said speaking about discussions on the
reconstruction plan draft.
He was satisfied with the results and hoped the same would be
achieved in the implementation of a refugee return plan.
Washington has repeatedly pointed out the drafting and evaluation
of the said document is a condition for holding an international
donors' conference on the reconstruction of war-ravaged areas,
Montgomery said.
He announced on Monday he would meet Croatian Premier Zlatko
Matesa, representatives of the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe and the UN agency for refugees, to discuss the
implementation of a Serb refugee return plan, which is another
condition for the donors' conference.
Elaborating access to NATO's Partnership for Peace, Montgomery
said the armies of member-countries had to be pro-west oriented and
have the same set of values as NATO armies.
A real civil control over the army must exist, the military budget
must be transparent, he said, adding that top defence ministry
officials cannot be anti-democratic in their thinking.
With regard to Croatia, Montgomery said these officials should not
be against the Dayton agreement, and pointed out that the Croatian
army's relations with the Croatian Defence Council should be clear
and transparent.
These will be the factors by which we will assess Croatia's
readiness to join Partnership for Peace, he said.
(hina) ha
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