USA: CROATIAN LEADERS APPEAL TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

Описание: (10 Aug 2000) English/Nat
XFA
Croatian leaders are urging the international community and in particular European nations to help offset the growing crisis in Montenegro.

During a working visit to the United States, Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic said that Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic must not be allowed to have another "war adventure" in the small neighbouring country.

Relations between Serbia, where Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has his power base, and much smaller Montenegro are becoming increasingly strained as September's elections approach.

Although the two republics formally make up the Yugoslav federation, independence-minded Montenegro has virtually severed all ties with its larger partner.

Watching from the sidelines, with increasing concern, are Croatian leaders.

Croatian President Stjepan Mesic says being responsible for four wars in the Balkan region, Milosevic should not be given the opportunity to start another.

Mesic says Montenegro should be given a chance to find its own path towards democracy.

SOUNDBITE: (Croatian, with English translation)
"His goal now is to cause a crisis in Montenegro. And therefore the international community should send a message to Milosevic, which would cause him to desist from causing any crisis. And he should not be permitted to engage in a war adventure in Montenegro. And then he will face a crisis in Serbia. A crisis he will not be able to control any longer and that will be the end of his regime and of himself."
SUPER CAPTION: Stjepan Mesic, Croatian President

The Croatian delegation has had extensive talks with the Clinton administration in recent days.

A top priority of those talks has been stability in the region.

SOUNDBITE: (Croatian, with English translation)
"Milosevic's dream today is the only disturbing factor in Europe. And this is why it suits our purposes and goals to see the democratic processes going on in Montenegro. And we do hope that these democratic processes will also spill over into the territory of Serbia."
SUPER CAPTION: Stjepan Mesic, Croatian President

Both the Croatian President and Prime Minister Ivica Racan say they believe the opposition groups inside Serbia have a long way to go to prove their viability.

One thing they both urged was for the opposition to clearly state what Serbia will be like after Milosevic is out of power.

SOUNDBITE: (Croatian, with English translation)
"The message we are sending to the Serbian opposition is, stop competing with Milosevic in Serbian nationalism. Turn to Europe and European integrations. And send out a message to the Serbs outside of Serbia that they must be a bridge of cooperation with other states and nations and not the basis for any right or territorial claims."
SUPER CAPTION: Stjepan Mesic, Croatian President

There is growing alarm in the region with the arrests more than a week ago by the Yugoslav army of four foreign nationals in Montenegro.

Opposition leaders have described the arrests as a ploy by Milosevic to convince Serbians that NATO is still interfering with Yugoslavia.

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