BRITISH DESTROYER "HMS CARDIFF" ARRIVES IN RIJEKA

( Editorial: --> 0745 ) RIJEKA, June 12 (Hina) - The British naval destroyer HMS Cardiff arrived on Friday in Croatia's northern Adriatic port of Rijeka for a four-day friendly visit. The Royal Navy ship forms part of the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) contingent under the operational command of NATO's southern naval forces in Italy. Ship commander Hugh Edleston and British Ambassador to Croatia Colin Munro met representatives of local authorities and the Croatian Armed Forces. At a press conference on board HMS Cardiff, Ambassador Munro said the United Kingdom attached great importance to the development of overall relations with Croatia, as well as relations between the armed forces - especially navies - because both countries had a long maritime tradition. Munro emphasised that NATO supported a peaceful, political solution to the Kosovo crisis, but added that if the Yugoslav army and police continued to act unacceptably, all options including military ones could not be ruled out. The destroyer's commander and officers talked about the boat, emphasising that the HMS Cardiff had taken part in military operations during the Falklands and Gulf Wars. (Hina) mbr jn /rml 121727 MET jun 98