CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES MALAYSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

ZAGREB, July 7 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman received Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the Presidential Palace on Monday, the President's Office said in a statement. Badawi and Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic informed the President about talks between Croatian and Malaysian companies on joint projects aimed at increasing trade between the two countries. President Tudjman said that the good and friendly political relations should be expanded to the economic field since there were many possibilities for that. The meeting was also attended by Presidential Chief of Staff Hrvoje Sarinic and head of the President's Cabinet Gordan Radin, the statement concluded. (hina) vm 071439 MET jul 97