CROATIAN PRESIDENT DEPARTS FOR RUSSIA

ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Thursday left for his first official visit to the Russian Federation, at the invitation of Russian President Boris Yeltsin. During the two-day visit President Tudjman will meet Russia's senior officials and sign a declaration on friendship and cooperation between the two countries. "This visit has a great significance for us, because Russia was and still is a great power which plays an important role in international life", President Tudjman said ahead of his departure. The Croatian President will meet his host Yeltsin on Friday afternoon, and Prime Minister Yevgeniy Primakov earlier in the day. Talks between Tudjman and Primakov will include bilateral relations and international issues. Accompanying Tudjman are Croatian President's Office Chief-of- Staff Ivica Kostovic, Foreign Minister Mate Granic, European Integration Minister Ljerka Mintas-Hodak, Defence Minister Pavao Miljavac, Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, Economy Minister Nenad Pogres, and head of the president's cabinet Gordan Radin. The Croatian delegation will sign ten inter-state agreements in Russia's capital. (hina) it/jn