PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RETURNS FROM VISIT TO GREECE

ZAGREB, Nov 25 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman said on Wednesday, upon returning to Zagreb from a tree-day official visit to Greece, that the two countries shared views regarding international problems and bilateral issues. "The stances of Greece agree with Croatia's views on all issues, both regarding international problems and bilateral issues," Tudjman told reporters at Zagreb's airport. Greece highly appreciates the role of Croatia in solving the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and understands the "historic importance" of the signing of the Agreement on Special Relations between Croatia and the Croat-Moslem Bosnian Federation. "The Greeks understand the historic significance of the signing of the Agreement on Special Relations between Croatia and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, because the crisis in Bosnia- Herzegovina after the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia was the one which burdened not only relations between us and Belgrade, but also international relations," Tudjman said. He stressed that it was false that Greece is more inclined towards Serb-Yugoslav views than Croatian, and added that the Croatian delegation was "almost surprised with the organisation of the visit and the welcome expressed at the highest levels". Speaking about the Agreement on Special Relations, Tudjman stressed that it was a "historic event which creates the bases for the reality of Croatia's policies and the future of the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as the overall attitude of the Bosnian Federation towards Croatia, which also ensures the strategic interests of the Croatian state". Tudjman said that at one time, pressure had been exerted on Croatia to sign the agreement on the free use of the Croatian port of Ploce by Bosnia-Herzegovina. "We did not accept that because, had we signed the Agreement on Ploce, it is doubtful that we would ever have had the Agreement on Special Relations," he added. Croatia last Sunday signed the Agreement on Special Relations with the Bosnian Federation, along with the Agreement on the free use of the port of Ploce by Bosnia-Herzegovina and the free passage through the southern Bosnian town of Neum for Croatia. Asked to comment on the request of the High International Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, that Croatia should include Moslems who declare themselves as Bosniaks into the Constitution as a minority, Tudjman said "nobody from the outside can decide what Croatia will determine and envisage by its Constitution". "It is an issue of internal organisation, and on the other hand, the position of the Moslem minority in Croatia is incomparable with the position of the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina," Tudjman said. Stressing that the position of "Moslems in Croatia is an issue of their numbers", Tudjman said that a new census will determine the exact number of Moslems in Croatia. "In any case, they have constitutional rights as all other national minorities," Tudjman stressed. He added that Croatia will certainly "consider their position on the lines of good relations with the Federation". During his three-day visit to Greece, Tudjman met Greek President Konstantinos Stephanopoulos, Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, and Parliament Speaker Apostolos Kaklamanis. (hina) lml mm