CROATIAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS ON ASCENDING LINE - GALBRAITH ( Editorial: --> 9217 )

( Editorial: --> 9217 ) ZAGREB, 8 Nov (Hina) - The relations between Croatia and the United States are on the ascending line, said U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, Peter Galbraith, in an interview with the daily 'Novi List', given ahead of the end of his ambassadorial mandate. We expect Croatia, as well as all other signatories to the Dayton and Erdut agreements, to abide by the commitments they have taken over. Not only by some of them but literally by all of them, Galbraith said. We are determined to see the peace process in Bosnia-Herzegovina succeed. The peace process will certainly fail unless all sides stick to their obligations, he added. Asked to estimate the process of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube river region, Galbraith said it seemed to him that the implementation of the Erdut agreement had been accelerated during the past month, adding he was very satisfied with that. He gave a positive evaluation of the Croatian Government program of national reconciliation, adding that considerable progress had been achieved in many fields. The most important problem which still remains is the return of refugees and displaced people, said Galbraith. Asked whether Croatia had the right to war reparations, Galbraith said that in 1993 he visited Vukovar and told reporters that the town had been destroyed by the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). In my opinion, Croatia should have the right to war reparations and I think it is a question which should be included in the succession process, the U.S. Ambassador said. (hina) mm rm 081115 MET nov 97