CRO PRESIDENT RECEIVES CREDENTIALS FROM PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR TO C

C $ ROATIA - STATEMENT ZAGREB, May 23 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Thursday received credentials from the Budapest-based Portuguese Ambassador to Croatia, Jose Miguel Crespo de Barros, a statement from the President's Office said. #L# Presenting the credentials, Barros stressed that Croatia had a special place in the family of European countries on the basis of its great history and numeral contributions to the common European tradition. Expressing awe about achievements of Croatia which was reborn with new institutions, de Barros expressed hope that war was in the past and that the Croatian people could have faith in future in peace and prosperity. Receiving the credentials, Tudjman said that Croatia was returning to the European peoples' union where it had always belonged. Stressing the similarity of history and geographic location of Croatia and Portugal, Tudjman said that the development of relations between the two countries should be based on history, but turned towards the future, the establishment of democracy and freedom, as well as mutual cooperation. Tudjman told de Barros that he could expect full support of the Croatian President, government and people in the performance of his duties. During talks after receiving the credentials, Tudjman said that he hoped that the process of peaceful reintegration would be completed successfully and that Croatia was decisive that the Washington and Dayton Agreements be implemented in full, especially that the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina should be strengthened, as this was not just in the interest of Croatia and the Croat and Moslem people, but also of Europe and the world. De Barros expressed support of his country to Croatian accession into European integration processes, especially stressing the need of Croatia's accession into the European union in which it would have full support of Portugal, the statement said. (hina) lm mm 231815 MET may 96