Jutarnji List, September 18^th, 2001

THE OPTION THE UNITED STATES TAKE WILL DETERMINE THE NATURE OF CROATIA'S COOPERATION

"There is no longer a vacuum. Last week during the consultations in the State Department the United States clearly demanded from ambassadors of all states accredited in Washington for their countries to take a stand- for or against fighting the terrorism," said Croatian Ambassador in Washington Ivan Grdesic.

A. Elisabeth Jones, Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia, at that meeting presented to the ambassadors the option of creating a global coalition against terrorism. "The quantity of the coalition and the nature of each country's contribution is still not defined," says Grdesic. The cooperation will vary and depend on the country's size and geographic location. All countries will be asked to assist in exchanging information as well as in a greater supervision of the borders.

"Each country has a choice and Prime Minister Racan clearly stressed our intention to help," says Grdesic. "The option the United States take and the way the preparations will continue will determine the nature of the actual cooperation with Croatia," says Grdesic, while rumors say that Croatia is primarily asked for the information on the Islamic fighters and their possible connections with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ambassador Rossin attended another consultation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. The possible meeting of the Croatian President Mesic with the American President Bush during the General Assembly of the UN in New York has not yet been cancelled.