PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES ROBERT GALLUCCI - STATEMENT

ZAGREB, Jan 8 (Hina) - Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman today received ambassador and special advisor to the U.S. President and state secretary in charge of the implementation of the Bosnia peace agreement, Robert L. Gallucci, who was accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, Peter Galbraith, U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria, William Montgomery and second secretary in the U.S. Embassy in Croatia, Jeff Hovenier, a statement from the Presidential Office said. #L# At the beginning of his mission, Robert Gallucci wanted to acquaint himself with the general situation in the region, especially with the process aimed at strengthening the Croat- Bosniac Federation, as well as with the implementation of the basic agreement on reintegration of the Croatian Danube valley. President Tudjman said that the mission, with which Mr Gallucci had been entrusted, was of great importance for peace in the region. Despite predictable and unavoidable problems and obstacles in the process of its strengthening, the Federation represented the only real solution which could bring permanent peace and which could guarantee the interests of Croats and Bosniacs, President Tudjman said. The American officials and President Tudjman discussed the first session of the Joint Council for Cooperation Between Croatia and the Federation and Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The talks also stressed the need for a speedy and more effective implementation of the agreement on the reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem into Croatia's constitutional and legal order. The high officials also discussed the composition of the force which will be in charge of the implementation of the agreement. Today's talks were also attended be the head of the Presidential cabinet, Ivo Sanader, President Tudjman's advisor on foreign policy, Zeljko Matic, and President Tudjman's aide-de-camp, Major General Kresimir Kaspar, the statement said. (hina) rm 082025 MET jan 96