TURKISH PRESIDENT LEAVES CROATIA

DUBROVNIK, Sept 24 (Hina) - Turkish President Suleyman Demirel ended his three-day visit to Croatia with a visit to the south Croatian port of Dubrovnik on Wednesday. He was seen off at the Dubrovnik airport before departure for Ankara by Croatian vice premier Ivica Kostovic, Croatian Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, Dubrovnik County prefect Jure Buric and the commander of the Croatian Army's Fourth District, Major General Milivoj Petkovic. Assessing his visit to Croatia as wonderful, President Demirel thanked Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and the Croatian people. Croatia and Turkey are two friendly countries which must support each other and cooperate, he said. In the morning Demirel, his wife and members of the Turkish delegation visited the ancient centre of Dubrovnik, the town's Franciscan monastery, the Duke's castle and the Dubrovnik cathedral, as well as the city's history archive, which holds 12,000 documents testifying to five centuries of relations between the former Republic of Dubrovnik and the Turkish empire. Demirel also took a stroll down the ancient Stradun street. The Turkish President expressed gratitude to Dubrovnik and its history archive for preserving the historical treasure which "bears witness to our common past which, I hope, will contribute to peace". (hina) ha 241709 MET sep 97