Croatian Foreign Minister Miomir Žužul received today, 2 March, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs US Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky
“We have always claimed and still claim that there is no choosing for Croatia between the EU or the US, but that there is only one way and that is the way towards the UN and NATO membership with the help, understanding and support from the US,” said Minister Žužul after the meeting that tackled a series of issues: development of democracy, human rights and return of refugees. The US promised to help Croatia in solving the refugees issue, which is one of Croatian government’s priorities. The meeting also mentioned the possibility of Croatia contributing to the development of democracy in Afghanistan and dealing with the specific post-conflict consequences.
Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky commended the Croatian government’s efforts and encouraged it to solve the issue of return and reintegration of refugees as soon as possible. Ms Dobriansky described the issue of human trafficking as extremely important. A special department has been founded within the US Secretariat of State that deals with this aspect of human right violation and issues of law enforcement. The US side showed interest for co-operation with the Croatian side. The subject of the talks between Minister Žužul and Under Secretary of State Dobriansky was also the possibility of Croatia, as a country with experience in post-war reconstruction, participating at the next meeting of the Community of Democracies in Chile 2005.
Earlier today, before meeting with Minister Žužul, Under Secretary of State Dobriansky met with Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader and will later meet with Croatian President Stjepan Mesić. Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky is to leave Zagreb tomorrow morning.
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