TURKISH PRESIDENT ADDRESSES CROATIAN PARLIAMENT

ZAGREB, Sept 23 (Hina) - Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, who arrived in Zagreb on Monday for a three-day official visit, addressed a session of the Croatian Parliament on Tuesday. President Demirel was welcomed by Parliament Speaker Vlatko Pavletic, who said: "In the most difficult years of its struggle against the aggressor Croatia enjoyed the support of Turkey, in particular owing to President Demirel and his strong understanding of the essence of developments in the former Yugoslavia, and particularly in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina." "We express our steadfast friendly feelings towards the people which he embodies and represents here, also looking forward, in line with our political relations, to an ever increasing economic, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two states which have also developed successful military cooperation", Pavletic said. Demirel said that Turkey highly valued its friendship with Croatia and that it regarded Croatia as "a key factor of peace and stability" and "a partner for the promotion of regional stability and widespread economic cooperation." "Together with President Tudjman, we are determined to deepen our cooperation and identify new areas of collaboration between our two countries. "Turkey and Croatia have similar or converging views on major regional and European issues. Turkey has been consistently supportive of Croatian efforts to join Euro-Atlantic institutions. "We lent active support to Croatia's membership in the Council of Europe, we are acting likewise towards Croatia's bid to join NATO's Partnership for Peace programme. "Turkey and Croatia share the same objective in taking their place in European integration," Demirel said. Speaking of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Demirel said that "developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina are of direct concern both to Turkey and Croatia," recalling that "Turkey and Croatia were the pioneers of the Bosniac-Croat Federation." "The Federation had its difficulties in the past. It still faces difficulties today. But Turkey strongly believes the Federation must prove itself to be a success," Demirel stressed. "The Federation now faces the challenge of winning the peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina because a viable, effective Federation is indispensable for the multi-ethnic, multi-religious state of Bosnia- Herzegovina. "Turkey, for her part, will continue to lend its unflinching support for the Federation and for independent Bosnia-Herzegovina. I remain convinced that the Federation serves the best interests of both our friends, the Bosniacs and Croats. By cooperating with each other, both Bosniacs and Croats will accelerate their integration into Western institutions. "For these reasons we are encouraged by the results of the recent meeting in Split between President Tudjman and President Izetbegovic. I call on both of them to take personal charge of seeing through the implementation of their accords," Demirel said. Demirel reiterated Turkey's "full support for the reintegration of the Danubian region to Croatia at the earliest," adding that "the Croatian government has taken constructive steps to facilitate the reintegration, particularly during this year. It is high time that the international community recognised them and responded appropriately, thus accelerating the implementation of peace accords." The Turkish President appealed to the parliamentarians of both countries to increase their mutual contacts and institutionalise their friendly ties. "This (the strengthening of ties) is the challenge before Turkey and Croatia. Cooperation in trade, economy, culture and tourism offers large benefits to both countries," Demirel said. (hina) vm jn 231228 MET sep 97