WASHINGTON, Jan 22(Hina) - Croatian Parliament President Vladimir Seks and Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul met in Washington on Wednesday with US Secretary of State Colin Powell to discuss cooperation between Croatia and the United
States and the US support for Croatia's NATO membership.
WASHINGTON, Jan 22(Hina) - Croatian Parliament President Vladimir Seks
and Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul met in Washington on Wednesday with
US Secretary of State Colin Powell to discuss cooperation between
Croatia and the United States and the US support for Croatia's NATO
membership.#L#
The Croatian officials met the US Secretary of State at the end of
their five-day official visit to the USA, which they paid at the
invitation of Congress. The purpose of the visit was to seek support
for Croatia's fast admission into NATO.
Seks told reporters after the meeting that Powell supported Croatia's
NATO membership "because he believes, as do we, that Croatia's
membership in NATO is a guarantee of its participation in the global
anti-terrorist coalition".
The Sabor president said the talks also addressed Croatia's readiness
to increase its contingent in Afghanistan. Croatia currently has a
military police platoon in Afghanistan, which is taking part in the
anti-terrorist coalition.
"We have concluded that we share the same position on almost all
important issues," Foreign Minister Zuzul said.
The Croatian delegation said that Croatia was committed to its
partnership with the USA and appreciated the importance of the fight
against terrorism, as well as the leading role of the USA in that
area, Zuzul said.
The meeting also tackled the US request that Croatia sing an agreement
on the non-extradition of US citizens to the International Criminal
Court and the Secretary of State suggested that Croatia ratify a
memorandum on intellectual property with the United States as soon as
possible.
Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader should soon visit the United
States to hold talks on bilateral relations, including the outstanding
issues, such as the agreement on the non-extradition of US citizens.
During the visit, Seks and Zuzul met a number of members of Congress
and Senate in an effort to win their support for Croatia's NATO
membership as well as to have the House of Representatives and Senate
consider a vote on a resolution supporting Croatia's NATO membership.
Henry Hyde, an influential member of Congress and chairman of the
House of Representatives' Committee on International Relations,
promised to sponsor such a resolution in the House of Representatives.
Hyde will soon visit Croatia at the helm of a Congress delegation to
see how the country is preparing for NATO membership.
Sabor president Seks described the visit as very successful.
(Hina) rml