CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS CONTACT GROUP REPS

ZAGREB, Sept 23 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on Tuesday met representatives of the extended Contact Group and informed them about the stance of the Croatian government from Monday's session which had focused on the process of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube river region. #L# I informed members of the extended Contact Group with the stance of the Croatian government, that Croatia has fulfilled everything it had committed itself to doing in the Letter of Intent, Matesa told reporters after the meeting. I also informed them that from our standpoint, it is unacceptable to give out statements that the Croatian government had not done anything, or that it only issued certain documents and programmes which are not backed by anything in the real sphere, Matesa stressed. He said the aim of the meeting had been to present to the Contact Group representatives a document which the Croatian government had adopted at Monday's session. The document was a report on the implementation of the Letter of Intent. It was evident from the report that Croatia had invested enormous efforts and resources in all segments of the peaceful reintegration process, and we can be more than satisfied with the accomplished, he stressed. I also informed them that the Croatian government had discussed the principles of the basics of the programme of creating trust, which was now being elaborated by relevant ministries, and which would be adopted at one of the following government sessions, Matesa added. "As regards the Croatian government, we believe that there is no reason to jeopardise the process of peaceful reintegration, its pace and deadlines," Matesa concluded. Asked whether there had been concrete criticism toward anything Croatia had not fulfilled, Matesa said there had been no criticism, only several questions for which answers had been incorporated in the report. (hina) lm mm 231706 MET sep 97