PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER ROSATI

ZAGREB, Apr 5 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Friday received Polish Foreign Minister Dariusz Rosati, the President's office said in a statement. Following is the full text of the statement: "Now that the Republic of Croatia was an independent state, the two countries were able to further develop their historic and cultural ties and build a strong political, cultural and economic relationship, President Tudjman said. He stressed that the fact that the Pope was a Pole had been essential in bringing the Vatican to accept the independent Croatian state. Conveying President Kwasniewski's greetings to President Tudjman, Minister Rosati said he was happy to be the first Polish Foreign Minister to visit the independent Croatian state. Poland would support Croatia's efforts to peacefully reintegrate the occupied Danubian area and its wish to join the Council of Europe, CEFTA and other European associations, Rosati said. President Tudjman expressed gratitude for Poland's support. Historically, Croatia belonged to western and central Europe and wanted close cooperation with all countries from the Baltic to the Adriatic, he stressed. Croatia favoured a normalisation of relations with other post-Yugoslavia countries, but attempts to force it to join Balkan, Danubian or Adriatic associations were unacceptable, he said. Also present were Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, the President's chief-of-staff Ivo Sanader, the President's foreign policy advisor Zeljko Matic and Croatian Ambassador to Poland, Ivan Brnelic." (hina) mm as 051410 MET apr 96