CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES TOP NATO OFFICIALS - STATEMENT

ZAGREB, Jan 11 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman received NATO Secretary General Javier Solana in the Presidential Palace in Zagreb on Thursday evening, the Presidential Office said in a statement. Solana was accompanied by Supreme Allied Commander for Europe Gen. Joulwan, Adviser Klaus Scharioth, Adviser on International Affairs Michael Durkee, Secretary Jim Foley, Military Adviser Col. Dave Schulte and Chief Liasion Officer Brigadier David Wilby. At the beginning of the talks, the President once again congratulated the Secretary-General on his appointment and wished him success in discharging his duty. Solana thanked Tudjman for highly professional cooperation between the Implementation Force (IFOR) and Croatia's authorities and armed forces, expressing his wish for such cooperation to continue. The talks focused on the concrete implementation of the Dayton peace agreement, strengthening of the Croat-Moslem federation, restoration of confidence between the peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Basic Agreement on Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem and the composition of forces which would be responsible for its implementation. Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening the Federation because it would undoubtedly have a positive impact on the overall implementation of the peace agreement in Bosnia- Herzegovina. The President pointed out that after four years of war it was not easy to bridge deep gaps between the peoples of Bosnia- Herzegovina which were at the moment manifested in the form of heightened tensions between the Moslems and Serbs in Sarajevo and the Croats and Moslems in Mostar. The conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina has produced many, often justified reasons for deep distrust between its constituent nations, Tudjman said, recalling that his recent visit to Sarajevo was aimed at strengthening the Federation and building up confidence between the Croat and Bosniac (Moslem) people. Speaking of the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian region into Croatia's constitutional and legal system, the President said that this process was of greatest importance to the Croatian people and government, and that along with the overall normalization of Croatian-Serbian relations it could contribute to the success of the peace process in the region. Solana said that NATO was willing to help in the implementation of the Basic Agreement and that everything should be done to ensure it as soon as possible. Tudjman said he would make every effort to help defuse tensions, build up mutual confidence and contribute to the successful implementation of the Dayton peace agreement. Croatian officials attending the meeting included Presidential Chief of Staff Ivo Sanader, Ambassador to Belgium Janko Dobrinovic Vranyczany, Croatian Army Chief of Staff General Zvonimir Cervenko, Acting Director of the National Security Office Miro Tudjman, and Presidential Aide General Kresimir Kaspar, the statement concluded. (hina) vm 120033 MET jan 96