TUDJMAN RECEIVES GERMAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION - STATEMENT

ZAGREB, March 9 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman tonight received a delegation of the German Bundestag Committee for foreign affairs, which was headed by the Committee's President Klaus Heinz Hornheus, a statement from the President's Office said. Main topics of the meeting were Croatia's joining the European integration processes, the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the future of the Croat-Bosniac Federation. At the beginning of the talks, President Tudjman said that the Republic of Croatia attached great importance to the development of overall relations with Germany, stressing Croatia's appreciation of Germany's support in times when Croatia fought for its independence. Croatia also appreciated humanitarian assistance Germany had provided during the Homeland war and accommodation it offered to a large number of refugees from Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina. Mr Hornheus thanked President Tudjman and Croatia for their very important contribution to the signing and implementation of the peace agreements, as well as for their hospitality and excellent cooperation with IFOR. The visit of the German parliamentary delegation would help deepen the friendly Croatian- German dialogue, Hornheus said. As regards Croatia's joining the European integration processes, President Tudjman stressed that the modern history was characterized by a process of global integration, but also by a process of national individualization, which was proved by the increasing number of independent states since the beginning of the century. As an integral part of the Western European civilisation, Croatia favoured the establishment of friendly relations between all states as well as the normalisation of relations between former Yugoslav states, their mutual recognition and cooperation. Croatia's admittance to the European integration processes remained one of the main goals of its external policy. Mr Hornheus said that the European integration was a long and hard process and that solutions to its problems should be long-term solutions. Asked by the German delegation about the future of the Croat- Bosniac Federation, President Tudjman pointed to the results achieved so far, such as the organisation of the Federation's Government and economic and military cooperation. He also pointed to the difficulties arising from the four-year war and affiliation to different civilisations. However, with the support of the European Union and the whole international community, the establishment of the Federation was possible to complete, President Tudjman said. The Federation and its linking with Croatia guaranteed the establishment of a lasting peace and new international order in the region, which was in the interest of both peoples, President Tudjman stressed. The German parliamentary delegation also included the German Ambassador to Croatia, Horst Weisel and the members of the Committee for foreign affairs, Norbert Gansel, Gerd Poppe, Ulrich Irmer, Klaus Francke, Herman Grohe and Reiner Czeniek. The Croatian delegation included President Tudjman's Chief-Of- Staff Ivo Sanader, State Seal Keeper Ivan Milas, the head of the Croatian Parliament Committee for foreign affairs, Zdravka Busic, President Tudjman's advisor on foreign policy, Zeljko Matic, the head of the Croatian Intelligence, Miroslav Tudjman, advisor Djordje Pribicevic and the aide to the Croatian foreign minister, Hido Biscevic, the statement said. (hina) rm 092203 MET mar 96