PRESIDENT MESIC TALKS ON PHONE WITH ISRAELI PRESIDENT KATSAV

ZAGREB, April 4 (Hina) - The Israeli state is a fact which must be accepted by everybody in the Middle East and the world, while the Palestinian state can become a fact if Palestinian leaders give up terrorism, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said on Thursday in a phone conversation with Israeli President Moshe Katsav, the Mesic's Office said in a statement. #L# "The Israeli President told President Mesic that in the past month alone, more than 120 civilians, including a large number of women and children, have been killed in attacks by suicide bombers. This fact, President Katsav said, forced Israel to launch the current military operation," the statement said. "President Mesic said that he could understand the reasons for the Israeli operation, but warned that the problem could be solved only at the negotiating table, after the Palestinian side halted suicide attacks and Israel ended its military operation," the statement said. The Israeli president agreed that a solution could be found only with a compromise reached in negotiations. "Croatia supports all operations which can lead to peace in the whole region," Mesic is quoted as saying. (hina) sb rml