ZAGREB, 12 April (Hina) - Croatia and Macedonia refused the possibility of entering any new Yugoslav association and held that the states which originated from the former Yugoslavia should be equal successors to the former state,
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov told a press conference after the talks in Zagreb on Friday.
ZAGREB, 12 April (Hina) - Croatia and Macedonia refused the
possibility of entering any new Yugoslav association and held that
the states which originated from the former Yugoslavia should be
equal successors to the former state, Croatian President Franjo
Tudjman and Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov told a press
conference after the talks in Zagreb on Friday. #L#
'Croatia and Macedonia share the view that relations with
neighbouring peoples should be built on the basis of mutual
recognition, independence and sovereignty and oppose all ideas on
the revival of the former Yugoslav association, be it in the form
of some Adriatic or Balkan federation of in the form of a
Southeastern European union', President Tudjman said.
'I would like to stress that both Macedonia and Croatia hold
that the states which emerged on the territory of the former
Yugoslavia are equal successors of the former state and that the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia cannot be the only state to exercise
the right to succession', Tudjman said.
Croatia and Macedonia both considered that the best solution
for the establishment of the new international order in this part
of Europe was their joining the European integration processes
without the mediation of some regional association, President
Tudjman said.
'I would like to say that I agree with opinions and
conclusions presented by President Tudjman because there really is
no reason why we should not agree on even most delicate issues,
which are currently discussed in Europe and the world, as regards
our two states, their independence and autonomy', President
Gligorov said.
The Macedonian president stressed that Macedonians would never
give up the independence they achieved after a long fight.
There were no open questions between the two states, Gligorov
said, adding that chances for economic and cultural cooperation
were therefore bigger.
He congratulated President Tudjman on the courage and strength
of the vision he and his associates shared in the creation of an
army which had shown that 'Croatia is not only able to defend
itself but to be an important military factor in this part of the
world'.
The Macedonian president added he hoped that Croatia would
soon liberate the rest of its occupied territory.
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