STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GIVES STATEMENT ABOUT CROATIA

ZAGREB, Sept 25 (Hina) - Spokesman for the US State Department, James Rubin, said on Wednesday that, as an observer at the Council of Europe, the United States intended to warn the Council of Europe about Croatia's "non-compliance" with the promises it made when joining the Council of Europe in November 1996. A transcript of Rubin's statement to the press was sent to Hina by the US Embassy in Zagreb on Wednesday. "Zagreb agreed to fulfil a number of specific conditions, including refugee return and cooperation with the War Crimes Tribunal," Rubin said, adding, "In our view, Croatia's performance on these issues has fallen woefully short". It will be up to the Council to make its own assessments, Rubin said, adding that the United States had been urging its European allies "to keep the pressure on Zagreb until it meets its obligations under Dayton (agreements), including and especially on war criminals and human rights," Rubin said. (hina) lm 251252 MET sep 97