PREMIER RACAN CALLS UPON NATO TO CONSIDER CROATIA'S JOINING MAP

BRUSSELS, May 16 (Hina) - In his speech before of the NATO Permanent Council in Brussels on Wednesday, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan called upon NATO to consider Croatia's participation the Membership Action Plan (MAP). The MAP is a NATO programme for potential candidates which includes the adjustment of standards and criteria with NATO member countries in politics economy, judiciary, security and military. "When created, the MAP did not demand any special conditions for joining the first nine countries aspiring to NATO membership. They were admitted based on their common aspiration to join NATO. Croatia also shares the same aspiration," Racan said before the NATO Permanent Council. Speaking of the so far cooperation between Croatia and NATO, the Croatian Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the first 12 months of the formal partnership within the Partnership for Peace programme. He stressed Croatia was implementing deep and long-term reforms in the fields of military and defence aiming at bringing the Croatian Army standards closer to NATO's. "We are in the process of endorsing crucial strategic documents on security and military structures, as well as forming a small, professional and well-equipped army which will be able to defend the country in a new security atmosphere and participate in the peace operations of NATO, the United Nations and European Union," Racan said. We have about 20,000 soldiers and officers more than we currently need. This represents a security, economic and social challenge. Our goal is to include these people in the labour market on competition basis, and not in the army of unemployed persons, the Croatian Prime Minister said. Speaking of interior changes in Croatia over the past 15 months, Racan said the first signs of approaching the end of recession were visible, adding that the process of the return of refugees and displaced persons became more intensified despite a difficult economic situation. Addressing the situation in the region, the Croatian Prime Minister welcomed the fact that after the elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, each country in the region was led by governmental authorities elected in a democratic way, stressing, however, there were still cases of instability, including the situation in Bosnia- Herzegovina. "The Croatian government supports legal institutions in Bosnia- Herzegovina and at the same time actively discourages all forms of extremism, particularly if encouraged by Bosnian Croats...the Dayton Peace Agreement remains the criterion of our policy toward Bosnia-Herzegovina. At the same time, the Dayton Agreement, which is understandable, failed to offer solutions for issues which did not exists at the time it was made. Unfortunately, recent events in Banja Luka and Trebinje make me less optimistic than I used to be", Racan said. As for the relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, some main issues, such as Prevlaka, missing persons and the return of refugees, have not yet been solved, however, the atmosphere in our relations removed the threat to the regional peace and security, Racan said. He stressed Croatia's interest was the stability at the border and called upon NATO to consider the joining of Bosnia- Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the Partnership for Peace programme. (hina) it