CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

ZAGREB, July 30 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, on Wednesday received Belgian Foreign Minister Erik Derycke in Zagreb, the President's office said in a statement. At the talks President Tudjman pointed out a constructive role of Belgian UNTAES units that were participating in implementation of the process of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube area. He also stresses a positive policy of the Belgian government in the settlement of the crisis following the collapse of the former Yugoslavia. Croatia had wanted a settlement in a peaceful way, but being exposed to the Greater Serbian aggression, the country managed to defend its independence and democratic order and to become a constructive factor in the resolution of the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina, read the statement. We would continue to pursue our constructive role, President Tudjman said and added that Croatia, being a central European country, aspired to the linking with the European Union and inclusion into EuroAtlantic reintegration processes. Minister Derycke said that after the completion of the process of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube river area, Belgium would support Croatia's bid for entrance into EuroAtlantic integration. Present at the meeting were the President's chief-of-staff, Hrvoje Sarinic, Foreign Minister Mate Granic and Croatian Ambassador to Belgium, Janko Vranyczany Dobrinovic. (hina) mm mš 301409 MET jul 97