CRO FOREIGN MINISTER & TURKISH DEPUTY PREMIER HOLD TALKS

ANKARA, Oct 29 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic and Turkish Deputy Premier Bulent Ecevit on Thursday highly assessed the level of political cooperation and relations between the two friendly countries. Granic is visiting Ankara on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the modern Turkish state. The Granic-Ecevit talks focused on bilateral relations, and the situation on the territory of the former Yugoslavia and in southeastern Europe. Particular attention was given to the Kosovo crisis and possible ways of overcoming it. The two officials assessed a peacefully reached, just, stable, and lasting solution must be sought within resolutions of the UN Security Council and through efforts of the entire international community. Granic acquainted his host with a recently initialled agreement on special relations between Croatia and one of Bosnia's two entities, the Croat-Muslim Federation. The document not only offers wide possibilities for an all-round development of mutual relations, but also considerably strengthens peace and stability in the region, announced the Croatian Foreign Minister. Granic also commended Turkey's role on former Yugoslav territory since the beginning of Serbian aggression on Croatia, and especially with regard to the establishment of stable relations between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Turkey's Deputy Premier highly assessed the efforts Croatia, a Central European and Mediterranean country, was making towards Euro-Atlantic integration, and reiterated Turkey's support to Croatia's access to NATO's Partnership for Peace. Today Granic attended several events celebrating Turkey's 75th anniversary, an occasion attended by presidents, premiers, deputy premiers, foreign and state ministers from some 60 countries. During this evening's central reception, Granic is expected to hold several unofficial meetings with high state officials, including his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem. (hina) ha