WASHINGTON, March 25 (Hina) - Croatia's Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul on Thursday held talks with several members of the US Congress in Washington on strengthening US-Croatian ties and the US support to Croatia's efforts to enter
NATO.
WASHINGTON, March 25 (Hina) - Croatia's Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul
on Thursday held talks with several members of the US Congress in
Washington on strengthening US-Croatian ties and the US support to
Croatia's efforts to enter NATO.#L#
Zuzul's interlocutors were Dan Rohrabacher, George Radanovich, Candice
Miller, Steve Chabot, Thaddeus McCotter, Eliot Engel and Christopher
Smith.
After the talks, Congressman Engel told reporters that he supported
Croatia's entry into NATO and the European Union and that he would
continue working on strengthening the ties between his country and
Croatia.
Engel, a member of the committee on international relations, is one of
those who moved a resolution of the House of Representatives on
support to the admission of Croatia, Albania and Macedonia to the
alliance, which should soon be adopted.
Congressman Smith said that he, in his capacity as the co-chairman of
Congress' Helsinki Committee, would advocate Croatia's admission to
NATO.
We are friends and we would like to be good partners and the sooner
Croatia becomes a part of NATO the better, Smith said.
Thursday's talks on Capitol Hill were part of Minister Zuzul's
strategy to ensure support for Croatia in the US Congress.
The purpose is to enhance the relations between Croatia and the United
States, the minister said commenting on his visit to Washington.
Zuzul and the Croatian parliament head, Vladimir Zuzul, were in the
USA in January this year lobbying for Croatia's entry into NATO. The
upshot of their endeavors is the draft resolution on backing Croatia,
Albania and Macedonia in a bid to enter the alliance, which Congress
is expected to adopt soon.
On Thursday, the Croatian foreign minister launched an initiative for
the establishment of a club of Congressmen - friends of Croatia, and
this topic was also discussed at his talks with the above-mentioned
officials. The club may be soon set up.
Asked by reporters whether Croatia should send his soldiers in Iraq,
Congressman Engel said that this was something on which the Croatian
government should decide, and the United States would welcome the
strengthening of the coalition in Iraq.
Croatia has proved that it is a good ally of the United States and we
welcome all forms of cooperation between the United States and
Croatia, he added.
(Hina) ms