CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES U.S. SENATORS - STATEMENT

ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Thursday received a delegation of the United States Senate, including Senate Democratic minority leader Tom Daschle and senators Orrin Hatch and Harry Reid, the President's Office said in a statement. The President expressed regrets about the tragic death of US Commerce Secretary Ronald Brown and hope that his mission, economic cooperation between Croatia and the US, would continue. The main objectives of the Republic of Croatia are the successful completion of the process of peaceful reintegration of the Danubian area and the implementation of the Washington and Dayton peace accords. The President expressed satisfaction with the activity of Transitional Administrator Jacques Klein and hope that the Danubian area would be demilitarized soon. Regarding the implementation of the Washington and Dayton peace accords, the President said that, despite difficulties, he was optimistic. For the Croats and Moslems of Bosnia-Herzegovina it is most important that the Federation agreement is implemented and that the Federation establishes links with European integrations via the Republic of Croatia. The aim of Croatia is to enter integration processes in Central and Western Europe and in no way any new integrations on the Balkans because civilization, cultural and historial differences have proved to be too great. Senator Dasche expressed satisfaction with democratic achievements and privatization in Croatia and optimism about the implementation of the peace agreements for Croatia and Bosnia- Herzegovina. The talks in the Presidential Palace were also attended by Presidential Chief of Staff Ivo Sanader, Keeper of the State Seal Ivan Milas, Parliament Vice President and President of the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee Zarko Domljan, Member of Parliament Zdravka Busic, Assistant Foreign Minister Frane Krnic and Presidential Assistant Foreign Policy Adviser Dubravka Pleic- Markovic. The US senators were accompanied by the US Ambassador to Croatia, Peter Galbraith, the statement concluded. (hina) vm 112033 MET apr 96