CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO ATTEND NATO SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON

ZAGREB, April 19 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic will, along with representatives from other countries-neighbours of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, attend a NATO summit meeting in Washington, to focus on the Kosovo crisis, sources close to the Croatian Foreign Ministry said on Monday. The heads of state or government of 19 NATO member-countries and 25 Partnership for Peace members will meet in Washington from April 23 to 25. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has also invited to the meeting the foreign ministers of Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina, despite the fact that they are not NATO or Partnership for Peace members. Croatia's Granic, who travels to Washington on Thursday, will participate in talks between the NATO Council of Ministers and eight countries-neighbours of Yugoslavia. The US Secretary of State is expected to give a working dinner for the eight ministers. The Croatian Foreign Minister will also participate in a symposium on the crisis in south-east Europe, to be held within the summit. "This is the continuation of intensive cooperation between Croatia and NATO, which started after the decision on the intervention (in Yugoslavia)", a source close to the Foreign Ministry said. Croatia expects that its participation in the summit will strengthen its position and help its efforts in coming closer to NATO. NATO's military intervention in Yugoslavia has considerably increased Croatia's chances to approach NATO. There has been speculation in the Croatia media recently that the Croatian territory might be used for a possible NATO ground troop operation. "No one has made any requests of Croatia in that respect", the source said when asked to comment on this. "I cannot tell you what will happen tomorrow", he added. Croatian representatives have repeatedly stressed Croatia's role as a constructive partner in the Yugoslav crisis, on whom NATO can rely. Croatia has demonstrated its willingness to cooperate in several matters important for the NATO operation. It has permitted the use of its air space by NATO planes for their attacks on Yugoslavia, it has been giving help in alleviating the crisis caused by the expulsion of Kosovo Albanians, and it has severed oil inflow into Yugoslavia via the Adriatic pipeline. According to the Foreign Ministry source, Croatia is closely cooperating with the United States as the leading NATO country, both on the political and security planes. Croatia is a stable country and a partner NATO can rely on, which is very important in a situation when the Kosovo crisis and the refugee wave in other first-line countries, such as Albania and Macedonia, are causing a political, security and economic crisis. "We are the key for help as regards Montenegro", the source added. Last year, the United States named several conditions for Croatia's admission to the Partnership for Peace, including further democratisation - in particular changes to the election law, media freedom, cooperation with The Hague Tribunal, implementation of the Dayton agreement, and civilian army control and acceptance of NATO military standards. On his way to Washington, Granic will first visit Brussels, where he will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Western European Union (WEU). Croatia expects that the most important part of its cooperation with this military organisation will be assistance in mine removal. (hina) rml