$ WITH TUDJMAN ZAGREB, 22 Aug (Hina) - Following Friday's talks between the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and a Croatian state delegation which, led by the Presidential Chief Of Staff Hrvoje Sarinic reached an agreement with an
Israeli delegation on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Croatia and Israel in Budapest on Thursday, Sarinic had an interview with Croatian Radio Television.
MEETING
$ WITH TUDJMAN
ZAGREB, 22 Aug (Hina) - Following Friday's talks between the
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and a Croatian state delegation
which, led by the Presidential Chief Of Staff Hrvoje Sarinic
reached an agreement with an Israeli delegation on the
establishment of diplomatic relations between Croatia and Israel
in Budapest on Thursday, Sarinic had an interview with Croatian
Radio Television. #L#
Israel was the last state in the world with whom Croatia
did not have but wanted to establish full diplomatic relations.
Israel cannot be seen only as a small state covering the area a
lot smaller than Croatia's, and with approximately the same
population - its importance on the international political scene
is way above those parameters, Sarinic said.
Contacts and relations between the two states have existed
for quite some time, both in political and economic sense, as
well as in some delicate spheres of those contacts, but they
failed to result in an agreement on the establishment of full
diplomatic relations.
"I think that this is the crown of all previous contacts
and that there was mutual willingness," Sarinic said, adding that
the cordiality of yesterday's meeting exceeded the level of
protocol and diplomatic relations.
Asked what conditions Croatia had to meet, Sarinic said
that the Croatian delegation had expressed regret on behalf of
Croatia for all that happened during World War II and the
quisling state, and in which only a very small segment of the
Croatian people participated.
"They requested that we should do it and we did it. Brandt,
Walesa and Vranitzky did the same, as well as many state
delegations and leaders, and we did the same on Croatia's
behalf," Sarinic said. The meeting also tackled President
Tudjman's visit to Israel, which was carried by Israeli media as
well.
"I think that it will happen as early as this year, and
this also shows how strong the desire for the establishment of
full diplomatic relations was, this is the first time that
preparations for the visit of a state leader are being considered
so soon following the establishment of diplomatic relations," he
said.
The talks also tackled the strengthening of economic
cooperation, Sarinic said adding that Israel is interested in
investing into Croatia's tourism. It could be expected soon that
the number of visits of Israeli tourists to Croatia would be
higher, Sarinic said.
The two sides also spoke about the possibility of opening
Israel's market for Croatia's military industry. The exchange of
technology would start and higher forms of cooperation, not only
in trade, would be established, Sarinic said in his interview.
(hina) rm jn
221915 MET aug 97