KOSOVO NEEDS US-LED INTERNATIONAL ACTION - CRO AMBASSADOR

( Editorial: --> 8995 ) WASHINGTON, June 4 (Hina) - Croatian Ambassador to the United States Miomir Zuzul told CNN Thursday that "without a clear action by the world community... (with) American leadership," the crisis in Kosovo cannot be solved. "The governments in the region are quite limited in their possibilities to do something concrete," Zuzul added. "It is absolutely crucial to have American leadership. Without that I believe that nothing can be done," he said. Zuzul stressed it was time for "preventative diplomacy", but with a clear and strong military support. He added that NATO troops did not have to be deployed in Kosovo necessarily, but should be present in the region. "NATO is the only organisation which has the credibility and strength to do the job," Zuzul said. He added that besides a military presence, what was also needed was a "clear political decision" on the resolution of the crisis. The problem of Kosovo existed even before any other problem in the recent history of the former Yugoslavia, Zuzul said. He stressed that Croatia recognised the signs from the area, which was a reminder of what had happened in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The crisis in Kosovo has created an unstable situation for neighbouring countries and governments, he added. Asked about the situation in Montenegro, Zuzul stressed that there were similarities between the situation there and in Kosovo. The international community should act in order to create a model which would lead to the establishment of democracy and stability in Serbia, "a stability which will not go against anyone in the area". Zuzul expressed hope that "one day Yugoslavia will be the kind of country which will accept all those rules" that Croatia has already accepted. (hina) lml/bag 042105 MET jun 98