CROATIA-OBSERVER AT SUMMIT OF EUROPEAN SOUTH-EASTERN COUNTRIES

( Editorial: --> 7793 ) ANTALYA, Oct 12 (Hina) - Calling for the achievement of peace and good neighbourly relations as well as development of economic cooperation, Mesut Yilmaz, Turkish Prime Minister, opened a two- day summit of seven countries from south-eastern Europe in the Antalya resort on Monday, where the Croatian delegation has the observer's status. The summit is attended by prime ministers of Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Yugoslavia as well as its host, Turkey, while Albania is represented by its ambassador. Bosnia-Herzegovina, the same as Croatia, has the observer's status. There are numerous indications that not much can be expected regarding the Kosovo problem. The Yugoslav delegation is categorically against mentioning Kosovo in the final declaration. Therefore it is possible that Yugoslavia would distance itself from the declaration, or find other ways to avoid it. The attempts of Yugoslav Prime Minister Momir Bulatovic to convince his Balkan colleagues during bilateral meetings to withhold their services from the NATO in its possible attacks on targets in Yugoslavia remained fruitless. Deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader, Croatian delegation leader, emphasised Croatian distance from the problems of south-eastern Europe, since Croatia, as a central European and Mediterranean country sought to become part of Euro-Atlantic institutions and integration, where it objectively belonged. However, he said, this did not mean that Croatia was blind to the Kosovo crisis. He added that Croatia was fully supportive of any peaceful solution to open issues in the Balkans, and, naturally, of good neighbourly relations and cooperation. (hina) jfk jn 122107 MET oct 98