$ CROATIA - ZUZUL WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Hina) - Relations between the United States and Croatia will in the next year, as they were this year, be primarily determined by developments in Croatia, Croatian Ambassador to US, Miomir Zuzul,
said in Washington on Thursday.
IN
$ CROATIA - ZUZUL
WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (Hina) - Relations between the United States and
Croatia will in the next year, as they were this year, be primarily
determined by developments in Croatia, Croatian Ambassador to US,
Miomir Zuzul, said in Washington on Thursday. #L#
The year 1996 was marked with progress in the field of
economic and military cooperation, numerous bilateral meetings and
the American Administration's clear criticism of anything it viewed
as a violation of human rights, including relations with the media
and minorities.
"The key to the development of our relations will primarily
lie with developments in Croatia," Zuzul told Hina.
He added that, after the appointment of a foreign affairs team
of the US President and considering their political positions, the
stance of the United States towards Croatia and our part of the
world could be foreseen.
America was determined to support Croatia's incorporation into
the West, which President Clinton had reiterated several times,
Zuzul said.
"America's interest for the development of partner and
friendly relations with Croatia is certainly the result of the fact
that we are necessary to the United States in the implementation of
operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and, in the long run, in the
development of strategic relations in that part of the world,"
Zuzul said.
America's criticism towards Croatia concerning democratic
principles "are frequently in good intention, which does not mean
that they always have to cause good effects," he said.
"I am convinced that Croatia is determined to develop
democracy and to respect human freedoms and the rights of
minorities and that those issues will not, in any way, present an
obstacle to the development of our relations with the US," Zuzul
said.
In the economic sphere, relations between Croatia and the US
began this year with a strong swing. Two American trade delegations
visited Croatia this year, the US Agriculture Department granted
US$ 12 million for the export of certain products into our country
in 1997.
The Americans did not hide their wishes for a contract on a
long-term sale of Boeing aircraft to Croatia.
"An inaccurate concept appeared in the United States that
Croatia is closed towards the American market, which is in
opposition to what we started with this year, which are (economic
relations) as a starter of overall bilateral relations," Zuzul
said.
However, he added, the next projects, such as the ones
concerning the power industry, which are being negotiated with the
US ENRON and ENSERCH, would convey Croatia's wishes.
After a contract signed by a Croatian air-transport company
and the European Airbus, Americans had complained because the
Boeing company had been convinced that the decision would be made
in mid-December, believing that they had some time to make an
offer, Zuzul said.
"It was a misunderstanding which has bad connotations to a
certain extent, but it does not have to mean that it has important
economic or political ramifications," Zuzul said.
"It cannot be and is not in the interest of Croatia and I know
for certain that President Tudjman, Prime Minister Matesa and the
whole government hold the stance that we cannot allow such
oversights to happen and that it jeopardized our bilateral
relations," he said.
This year's military cooperation with the United States was
marked by the signing of the first contract on the purchase of ten
American Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopters, a renewal of the contract
with the MPRI company and the education of Croatian officers at
American military academies and schools.
Still, Washington has not yet lifted the ban on buying
American weapons. "I do not think that this is a crucial issue at
the moment. It is a certain political signal which will resolve
itself through solutions to other issues," Zuzul said.
One of the most important military-political events next year
will be the NATO summit which should result in a turning-point
decision on extending the pact, which would include the Czech
Republic, Hungary and Poland in the first round.
It was important for Croatia that "it is clearly recognized
before the summit that Croatia has placed herself on tracks which
definitely lead to Croatia's accession into NATO," Zuzul said.
"I hope that we have a chance of being in the second group...
However, that will depend primarily on developments in Croatia," he
added.
"Of course, we have publicly declared Croatia's wish to be
admitted into NATO, however, we frequently hear different views in
Croatia which receive great response abroad," Zuzul said, adding
that he had been known to be asked whether Croatia had firmly
decided to enter NATO or not.
"Of course we have decided firmly and of course that it is our
long-term goal," Zuzul said.
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