WASHINGTON, Feb 16 (Hina) - Croatia would fully support and cooperate with the international community in the process of reintegrating eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem into Croatia, Croatian Defence Minister, Gojko Susak,
said before his departure from the United States.
WASHINGTON, Feb 16 (Hina) - Croatia would fully support and
cooperate with the international community in the process of
reintegrating eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem into
Croatia, Croatian Defence Minister, Gojko Susak, said before his
departure from the United States. #L#
"We will give the Administrator a chance to complete his
work and we will fully cooperate," Susak stressed at a press
conference in the Washington National Press Club.
He estimated that a year would be sufficient for the
completion of the area's reintegration, providing that both sides
cooperate. "Croatia will cooperate," Susak reiterated.
"Croatia is not making preparations for any kind of military
action. I say this with full responsibility, and I think that I
am a person who knows of Croatia's plans at the military level,"
Susak said.
Asked about the Serb's cooperation in the reintegration of
the Croatian Danubian area, Susak answered that U.S. officials
believed that Serbs would cooperate. "We shall see... When the
process of disarming starts, we will be able to see whether they
are cooperating or not," Susak stressed.
Asked about the future of the Prevlaka peninsula, Susak
answered that Croatia suggested that it be demilitarized. "We
cannot trade," he said, recalling that the Bosnian Serb president
offered a part of the Bosnian territory in exchange for Prevlaka.
Susak described his official visit to the U.S. where he held
talks with his American counterpart, William Perry, and White
House and State Department officials, as successful.
He said that they had not discussed purchasing weapons from
the U.S. The meeting focused on the training of Croatian students
in American military schools and American experience in a long-
term administration and planning of the Defence Ministry. Six
people from the Croatian Defence Ministry were in training in the
U.S. at the moment, Susak said, adding that six more candidates
would be enrolled for training.
Susak said that Perry would in May initiate the discussion
of including Croatia in the NATO brokered programme "Partnership
for peace". Croatia had sent a request to be included into the
programme over a year ago.
Susak told reporters that the talks also focused on training
and arming programmes for Bosnian Federation armed forces.
"A strong Federation is the only path and security for
ensuring the existence of Bosnia-Herzegovina," Susak stressed,
adding that the Federation project was crucial for Croatia.
Susak denied that Croatia might be responsible for the
attack on the EU Administrator of Mostar, Hans Koschnik following
his decision on organizing municipalities in Mostar.
"The Bosnian Croats in Mostar expect from Croatia to
instruct them, but it cannot do that. Croatia can use its
influence over them and cooperate with them... but, we cannot
dictate to them what to do," Susak said.
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