CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES TURKISH GENERAL KARADAY

ZAGREB, Oct 21 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Tuesday received the Turkish Army Chief-of-Staff, General Ismail Karaday in Zagreb, the President's Office said in a statement. Relaying Turkish President Suleyman Demirel's greetings, Karaday informed Tudjman about the good and comprehensive cooperation between the Turkish and Croatian armed forces. Tudjman said that Croatia attached great importance to overall good relations with Turkey which has great influence among Islamic countries. He added that Turkey, as a secular country established on Ataturk's legacy, represented an obstacle to the spreading of the influence of extreme Islamism. Tudjman hailed Turkey's constructive role in the implementation of the Washington and Dayton agreements and in the promotion of strong ties between the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. Present at the meeting were Defence Minister Gojko Susak, Croatian Army chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Pavao Miljavac, and head of the President's Military Cabinet Lt. Gen. Miljenko Crnjac. (hina) jn mš 211509 MET oct 97