ZAGREB, Apr 22 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman this evening received Hungarian Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs, the President's office said in a statement.
ZAGREB, Apr 22 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman this
evening received Hungarian Foreign Minister Laszlo Kovacs, the
President's office said in a statement. #L#
Following is the full text of the statement:
"President Tudjman thanked Hungary for its staunch support
since Croatia's proclamation of independence and the Homeland War.
'We know that Hungary is as interested as we are in the
successful and peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian
area. We have accepted this option in order to avoid further
bloodshed and because of the need to normalise relations with
Belgrade. We are neighbours and we cannot be at war with Serbia
forever, but we cannot accept any new associations in the area of
former Yugoslavia. From the historical and geopolitical viewpoint,
Croatia belongs among central-European countries, with which we
want to develop close cooperation,' President Tudjman said.
Stressing that Croatia had accepted the Washington and Dayton
Agreements as a means to protect Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina and
because of strategic and geopolitical interests, President Tudjman
said he was optimistic about the implementation of the peace
agreements and the establishment of close links between the Bosnian
Federation and Croatia and, through Croatia, with Europe.
Minister Kovacs expressed Hungary's support to the peaceful
reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area and Croatia's
integration into European associations and the NATO.
Expressing gratitude for Croatia's care for the Hungarian
minority, particularly refugees from the Danubian area, Minister
Kovacs conveyed Hungarian President Arpad Goencz's invitation to
President Tudjman to visit Hungary, which he accepted with
pleasure.
President Tudjman was accompanied by his chief-of-staff Ivo
Sanader, Foreign Minister Mate Granic, Croatian Ambassador to
Hungary Zdenko Skrabalo and assistant foreign policy advisor
Dubravka Plejic-Markovic.
Minister Kovacs was accompanied by Hungarian Ambassador to
Croatia, Zsold Szalay, chief of cabinet Gabor Brodi and head of
department Gabor Bagi."
(hina) mm as
222113 MET apr 96