CRO DANUBIAN AREA TO COME UNDER CROATIA'S RULE BY JUNE-SUSAK

ZAGREB, Nov 2 (Hina) - Croatia would have the support of the United States in its view that the Croatian constitutional and legal system should be completely established in the Croatian Danubian area (under the U.N. transitional administration) by June 1997, Croatia's Defence Minister Gojko Susak said Saturday upon his arrival at the Zagreb airport from three-day trip to the U.S.A. Talks between Croatia's Defence Ministry delegation and U.S. President's national security advisor, Anthony Lake, and Assistant Secretary of State, Strobe Talbott, revolved around the issue of passing a U.N. Security Council resolution on eastern Slavonia, Susak said. "We agreed on the issue and we shall work together on it," Susak told reporters. Croatia's stance on establishing completely the Croatian constitutional and legal system in eastern Slavonia by June (1997) will have the U.S. support, according to him. A meeting with the U.S. Defence Secretary William Perry concentrated on the analysis of the cooperation and its broadening, as well as on the admission of Croatia to the Partnership For Peace program, Susak added. "I am more than pleased with the meeting," Susak said adding that Croatia signed an agreement on purchase of helicopters. Asked whether Croatia would continue buying arms for its armed force, Susak replied that this purchase met needs for training of Croatian pilots for next several years. He explained that budget constraints would not allow them to buy for the Croatian Air Force. Furthermore, it would not be necessary to purchase, as pilots should be now trained by the current helicopters, according to Susak. He said William Perry abode by the view that Croatia should join the Partnership For Peace. However, the admission to the Partnership For Peace required a unanimous decision, and there were, apparently, some other interests that were hampering it, Susak added. Nevertheless, Croatia "is going ahead", as the Washington talks showed that the U.S.A had an attitude toward Croatia as if it were a member-country of the NATO or the Partnership For Peace, Susak said. (hina) mš 021836 MET nov 96