EMINENT U.S. MILITARY ANALYST WRITES STUDY ON CROATIA

ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Kresimir Cosic, on Saturday received the president of the "ML Resources Company" and the editor-in-chief of the renowned NATO's 16 Nations Magazine & Military Technology Magazine, Marvin Leibstone. The United States military analyst published a comprehensive article on Croatia in the magazine's September issue, and is presently writing an extensive report on the transition and democracy processes in Croatia. After the talks with Cosic, Leibstone told the press the report included all sides of the democratisation process in Croatia, and expressed his satisfaction on being able to present the first version of the report to Croatian Government officials. The report's final version will truthfully present all steps Croatia is taking to enter NATO's Partnership for Peace, NATO, and the European Union, Leibstone noted. Leibstone's study is of importance for Croatia, Cosic asserted. "There are not very many texts showing all Croatian achievements and problems in an objective and professional manner. This report is well-balanced and for Croatia especially affirmative. It will be distributed amongst U.S. congressmen and senators, and other U.S. institutions, and will have significant influence on changing the current political views on Croatia, for it is based on facts", Cosic concluded. The final version of the Leibstone report is to be published in January of 1999. (hina) it/ha