CROATIAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT RETURNS FROM IRAN

ZAGREB, Oct 30 (hina) - Croatian National Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic on Friday returned to Zagreb after an official visit to Iran where he lead a parliamentary delegation. The five-day visit to Iran was "not only interesting but also very useful," commented Pavletic. "We spoke with senior state officials primarily about bilateral relations, and the necessity of increasing economic cooperation," stressed Pavletic. He added that the development of relations between Croatia and Iran will be greatly contributed by "the recent signed agreement on cultural, education and scientific cooperation". Stressing that Iran was interested in the "this whole region", he underlined that everyone was of the opinion that Croatia is a very important country which should remain stable and act as stabiliser in the region. "Iran has with great pleasure received the information that the agreement on special relations between Croatia and the Croat- Moslem Bosnian Federation had been signed," Pavletic stressed. He added that he had informed Iranian officials that the agreement contained "all elements enabling cooperation based on the agreement would be realised to the benefit of the Bosnian Federation and Croatia, which be to the benefit of Croats and Moslems in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina." Speaking about his impressions about Iran, Pavletic said he witnessed circumstances "which tells us that the present day Iran was nothing like the country it had been before. It has entered a process which would enable changes." He added that the talks with Iranian officials focused on global issues as well. (hina) lml/ab