CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES OUTGOING BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR

ZAGREB, July 2 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Wednesday received the outgoing Bulgarian Ambassador to Croatia, Ljubce Troharov, and decorated him with the Order of Prince Branimir. At the ceremony in the Presidential Palace in Zagreb, President Tudjman said that the medal was a credit to Troharov's efforts in developing good and friendly relations between Bulgaria and Croatia and their peoples. Recalling historical ties between the Croatian and Bulgarian peoples, Tudjman stressed that today they had common interest in preserving the peace in the region. Thanking the Croatian President for the decoration, Troharov said that it was a credit to him personally and a friendly gesture to Bulgaria and its people. Troharov said that he was leaving with confidence that efforts to build even better relations between the two countries would continue. (hina) vm 021211 MET jul 97