OSCE CONTRIBUTES TO PEACE AND SECURITY - GRANIC

( Editorial: --> 9478 ) COPENHAGEN, 18 Dec (Hina) - The prospects for the successful completion of the Mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Croatia are excellent, Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said in his speech at an OSCE meeting in Copenhagen on Thursday. Granic also described as excellent the OSCE's prospects for confirming its ability to contribute to the strengthening of peace and safety in its member-states, in cooperation with European and transatlantic organisations. Speaking about the OSCE's role in Croatia, Granic stressed the organisation of local elections in April this year, which were supervised by 500 OSCE monitors. The success of those elections was one of the most important steps in the successful completion of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube river region, Granic said. The OSCE Mission's new mandate would result in the OSCE taking over the role of the most important organisation of the international supervising mechanism in Croatia. "The restructured OSCE Mission will have the main role in assisting my country in its efforts to further develop its democratic institutions and successfully complete the process of post-war recovery," said Granic, stressing the OSCE Mission had and would continue to enjoy the support of the Croatian Government. Granic said he was convinced that the decision on the mandates of an OSCE representative for freedom of the media and a coordinator for economic activities and environment represented further strengthening of the OSCE's efforts and of its existing organisations, such as the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the High Commission for National Minorities. Commenting on a discussion on the model of European security for the 21st century, Granic said Croatia recognised the irreplaceable role of the OSCE in those mechanisms, the same way it recognised the roles of NATO, the UN, the Council of Europe and other regional organisations. "We are convinced that all of them have their roles in constructing European security," Granic said. During the first day of the ministerial meeting in Copenhagen, Granic held bilateral meetings with foreign ministers and high officials of Russia, Bulgaria, Israel, Switzerland, the Vatican, Austria and Slovenia. (hina) mm rm 182151 MET dec 97