CROATIA AND RUSSIA SIGN SEVERAL AGREEMENTS

MOSCOW, Dec 18 (Hina) - Croatia and Russia signed several agreements in Moscow on Friday which, as Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Russian Premier Yevgeniy Primakov said, would further develop friendly relations between the two countries, and consolidate peace and the international order. Following talks between Croatian and Russian delegations, ministers of the two countries signed eight bilateral agreements on military, economic, trade and cultural cooperation. "These (agreements) are the result of friendly and good relations between Croatia and Russia," Tudjman said after the signing. He added: "I hope they will promote bilateral relations in economy, culture and all other areas, and also contribute to the consolidation of peace and international order". Primakov said the arrival of President Tudjman represented a crown in the relations between Croatia and Russia. The complex of the signed agreements and our talks today bear witness to the fact that out relations are progressing exceptionally well, Primakov said. We consider this to be of great significance and exceeds the frames of bilateral relations, he added. The development of bilateral relations primarily strengthens stability in the Balkans and south-eastern Europe, and such stability is necessary for all of us, Primakov said. He added that the declaration on friendship and cooperation to be signed by the two countries' presidents later in the day would further contribute to the 'partnership' of Croatia and Russia. Croatia and Russia on Friday signed agreements on military and military-technical cooperation, road and air traffic, the fight against illegal financial acts and money laundering, as well as memorandums on the liberalisation of trade and cooperation in the protection against environmental and other catastrophes. (hina) lml