TUDJMAN RECEIVES NEW U.S. AMBASSADOR

( Editorial: --> 3038 ) ZAGREB, Jan 8 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Thursday received the incoming U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, William Montgomery. Montgomery handed Tudjman his diplomatic credentials. Speaking to President Tudjman in Croatian, the new U.S. ambassador said: "Croatia has a key role in two important foreign affairs priorities of the United States - the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement and a lasting peace, stability and democracy in the wider area." "We want to be your active partner in this process and strongly believe that through joint efforts we can achieve more than we could alone," added Montgomery. According to President Tudjman, "Croatia wanted and wants to be a constructive factor". He agreed that together, the two countries could do more than one of them alone, even the leading world power - the United States. Montgomery said the U.S. wanted Croatia to take its position in European and Atlantic institutions. Speaking about what Croatia must do to be included in these institutions, the U.S. ambassador said Croatia must "overcome decades of authoritarian government and achieve full democracy, establish a market economy capable of competing on the world market, meet commitments under the Dayton and Erdut agreements, achieve inter-ethnic reconciliation, and establish good relations with neighbouring countries." President Tudjman said Croatia gave "the greatest importance to the development of friendly relations with the U.S.", since the U.S. is the leading and only world power and more than two million Croats live there. Speaking about the successful termination of the UNTAES mandate in eastern Croatia, the Croatian President said "we have to thank the international community for that, and the U.S. in the first place". "Croatia will now be able to concentrate on internal democratic and economic development, as well as international processes," said Tudjman. Croatia and the U.S. developed friendly relations especially in military cooperation, the President said, adding it was now time for economic relations between the two countries to develop as well. "I believe that negotiations between U.S. and Croatian business circles will end successfully in the near future and that relations will develop to mutual benefit in all fields," the Croatian President concluded. (hina) ha mm 081514 MET jan 98