CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES CHILEAN FOREIGN MINISTER

ZAGREB, March 24 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, on Monday received Chilean Foreign Minister Jose Miguel Insulza, the President's Office said in a statement. President Tudjman said that his visit to Chile, where many Croatian immigrants lived and where they had successfully taken part in economic, cultural and political life, stood out in his memory. President Tudjman expressed satisfaction with overall good relations between the two countries, and stressed that Croatia could serve as a bridge for Chile toward central Europe while Chile could be a bridge for Croatia toward Latin America. At the end of the meeting, he requested Minister Insulza to convey his invitation to Chilean President Eduard Frei to visit Croatia. Present at the meeting were Croatian President's chief-of- staff, Hrvoje Sarinic, Foreign Minister Mate Granic, a foreign policy advisor to President Tudjman, Zeljko Matic and Croatian Ambassador to Chile Franjo Blazevic. Before the reception by President Tudjman, Chilean Foreign Minister laid a wreath at the Altar of Homeland at Medvedgrad. (hina) mš 241455 MET mar 97