$ A, CHRISTOPHER SAYS ZAGREB, Feb 3 (Hina) - Croatia and the United States would continue to foster successful partnership in the implementation of the Dayton Accords, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and U.S. Secretary of State
Warren Christopher told a press conference after the talks they held in Zagreb on Saturday.
SLAVONI
$ A, CHRISTOPHER SAYS
ZAGREB, Feb 3 (Hina) - Croatia and the United States would continue
to foster successful partnership in the implementation of the
Dayton Accords, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and U.S.
Secretary of State Warren Christopher told a press conference after
the talks they held in Zagreb on Saturday. #L#
President Tudjman estimated that the talks with Christopher
and the American state delegation had been 'a very successful
continuation of friendly cooperation and partnership between the
United States and Croatia, which are developing particularly well
after the signing of the Dayton peace agreement and President
Clinton's visit to Croatia'.
'We are very satisfied with the fact that these relations are
developing in such a way', Tudjman said, adding that Croatia 'is
especially interested in developing overall relations with the
United States as the leading world power'.
The Dayton agreement had been reached 'under the leadership of
the United States and with Croatia's constructive cooperation',
Tudjman stressed. 'The agreement has helped the establishment of
peace and created conditions for the establishment of a new
international order in this restless part of the world', he added.
The U.S. Secretary of State conveyed President Clinton's
greetings to President Tudjman. President Clinton remembered
President Tudjman's contribution to the Dayton peace agreement as
well as his visit to Croatia, Christopher said.
He stressed that the Dayton peace agreement had announced a
new kind of partnership between the United States and Croatia. The
basis for that new partnership were the provisions of the Dayton
agreement that all sides had accepted, as well as their
implementation, Christopher said.
As a sign of the new kind of relations between the United
States and Croatia, Christopher said that since this week the
United States no longer advised its citizens not to travel to
Croatia.
Croatia had to give its share by following the path of peace
and implementing the provisions of the Dayton agreement,
Christopher said, adding he had assured President Tudjman that the
United States would continue supporting the peaceful reintegration
of the Croatian territory in eastern Slavonia in line with the
peace agreement. The problem of eastern Slavonia had to be solved
in such a way that the solution respected the rights of all people
living in the area, Christopher said.
The talks with President Tudjman had also tackled the steps
aimed at strengthening the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Christopher said, adding he expected that Croatia would be
cooperative in that process.
It was important that Croatia cooperated with The Hague War
Crimes Tribunal as well as that it showed full respect for human
rights of all its citizens regardless of their ethnic background,
Christopher said.
Asked if Croatia would cooperate in bringing to justice the
Croats accused of war crimes, Tudjman answered that Croatia had had
a constructive role in the process aimed at finding peaceful
solution and that it would also be constructive as regards the
cooperation with The Hague Tribunal. In accordance with the
provisions of its Constitution, the Croatian Government was
preparing a bill which would be submitted to the Parliament, in
order to be in full compliance with the requirements of The Hague
Tribunal, Tudjman said.
Speaking about the peaceful reintegration of the occupied
Croatian territories, President Tudjman said he thought that
Croatia was on a good path as regards the problem of eastern
Slavonia. 'Croatia will do all it can to avoid the use of other
means and solve the problem in a peaceful way', he said, asked
whether Croatia would reintegrate its territory in a peaceful way
or use force.
Croatia expected though that the visit of the U.S. Secretary
of State would prompt the other side to stick to the agreement on
peaceful reintegration, Tudjman added.
The United States wanted the reintegration of eastern Slavonia
to be carried out in a peaceful way, Christopher stressed, adding
that the police force that the United States and European countries
would send to eastern Slavonia should serve that aim.
Christopher said that after the talks with President Tudjman
he believed more then ever before that the transfer of authorities
in eastern Slavonia would be carried out peacefully because of the
positive attitude of the Croatian Government. He added that before
his return to the States, he hoped to be able to talk to all the
other who could help a 'peaceful and constructive transfer of
authorities'.
(hina) rm mm
031208 MET feb 96