OSCE Mission officials discuss progress report with Croatian Prime Minister

ZAGREB, 21 May 1999 - A delegation of senior diplomats today met with Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa. The main topic of discussion was the OSCE Mission's latest progress report.

While the prime minister disputed the negative conclusions of the report, he expressed his desire for fruitful cooperation with the OSCE Mission, and made concrete proposals as to how to improve cooperation in future.

The OSCE welcomes this initiative by the Government. A further meeting is envisaged to discuss concretely steps further to strengthen dialogue.

The OSCE Mission's mandate in Croatia is to assist and advise the Government during the period of transition and democratisation, and thus help Croatia in its efforts to integrate into European and Euro-Atlantic institutions.

The Mission, in cooperation with its international partners, makes recommendations about action which the Government must take in order to fulfil Croatia's international obligations. The Mission hopes that through intensified dialogue and cooperation with the Government, greater progress can be made in fulfilling Croatia's international obligations.