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US dislikes Mesic’s foreign Policy
Nacional
10.19.05

The US pressure on Croatia to apprehend Gen. Gotovina will end and Croatia will get US support for NATO only if and when President Mesic and Prime Minister Sanader start publicly supporting the US action in Iraq, change their views on the importance of UN in resolving of world crises, and recognize the role of NATO instead.

The repeated insistence of the US on the apprehension of Gen. Ante Gotovina is merely a tool of the US Administration to pressure Croatia into substantially changing its foreign policy views on US global politics, claims NACIONAL. According to highly positioned foreign diplomatic source in Zagreb – says the magazine -- the US pressure on Croatia will continue for as long as President Mesic and Prime Minister Sanader stick to their current policies. The country can expect US support for full NATO membership only if and when the two leaders start publicly supporting the US action in Iraq, change their views on the importance of UN in resolving of world crises, and recognize the role of NATO instead.

Recent statements of US officials -- that nothing short of apprehension of Gotovina can be seen by the USA as full cooperation with The Hague Tribunal -- is evidence of a deep crisis in the bilateral relations between USA and Croatia, especially when the EU members have agreed otherwise. No other member of EU or NATO maintains such a hard attitude on the Croatian cooperation with ICTY.

The issue here is not even American anger at the Croatian refusal to send troops to Iraq or to sign the agreement on non-extradition of American citizens to the International Criminal Court (ICC); the US is merely disappointed with President Mesic's criticism of American attempts to reduce the importance of the UN and Security Council. The US is also not happy with the return of Tomislav Jakic to the President’s Office as the Foreign Policy Adviser.

The US Administration's refusal to invite Croatian President and Prime Minister to Washington indicates a settling of accounts with the Croatian leaders, says NACIONAL’s source. The US reportedly expected Sanader to oppose Mesic on the issue of US policies on Iraq. Sanader has refused to do so.

NACIONAL’s sources also criticize the role of US Ambassador to Zagreb Ralph Frank. Unlike his predecessors, he has issued sharp statements to the Croatian media, criticizing Croatian leaders.

Still, reminds NACIONAL, Croatia has a certain historical debt to the USA. "Had it not been for America, there would have been no Operation Storm," claims the weekly, implying that certain considerations should be accepted.

Croatian American Association
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Daniella Sumera
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