PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES SLOVAKIAN PRIME MINISTER MECIAR

ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today received Slovakian Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar, who was accompanied by Slovakian Secretary of State attached to the Foreign Ministry, Josef Setak, Slovakian Ambassador to Croatia, Matus Kucera, Head of the Prime Minister's cabinet, Anna Nagyove and head of the Foreign Ministry political department, Vasil Grivna, the President's Office said in a statement. Following is the full text of the statement: "Opening the talks, President Tudjman and the Slovakian Prime Minister stressed the historical and friendly ties between the two countries, and their mutual interest in developing overall bilateral relations. Prime Minister Meciar said that the numerous Slovakian delegation (which included several ministers and senior officials and no less than 62 company mangers and businessmen) was the proof of Slovakia's interest to extend political, cultural and trade relations with Croatia. The Slovakian Prime Minister acquainted President Tudjman with the successful talks his delegation conducted in Croatia and the resulting bilateral agreements, stressing Slovakia's wish to take an active part in the reconstruction of war-ravaged areas in Croatia. The meeting also discussed the current political events in the region, particularly the implementation of the Dayton Agreement and the Basic Agreement on the Reintegration of the Croatian Danube Area. President Tudjman stressed the importance of a speedy and peaceful reintegration of the still occupied Croatian areas within the framework of normalisation of Croatian-Serbian relations, thanking Slovakia for its involvement in UNTAES. Also discussed was the issue of Prevlaka. While there was no doubt that it was an integral part of Croatian territory, Crotia would consent to a mutual demilitarisation of the area in order to ensure peace and overall normalisation in the region, President Tudjman said. Also present were the President's Chief-of-staff, Uvo Sanader, the President's foreign-policy advisor Zeljko Matic, Minister Branko Mocibob and Croatian Ambassador to Slovakia, Ivica Tomic." (hina) as 122107 MET feb 96