CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES FRENCH PHILOSOPHER

ZAGREB, June 18 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Tuesday received the French philosopher and writer, Alain Finkelkraut, the President's Office said in a statement. The talks focused on the peaceful reintegration of the Danube river valley of eastern Croatia. The President expressed optimism about a successful implementation of the reintegration process, citing guarantees from the United States. He added that Belgrade also admitted that the area was part of Croatian territory. Speaking of the Bosnian Federation, Tudjman said that it would become viable with the support of the international community, particularly Europe and the US, and that the Federation would be linked to the West via Croatia. Commenting on domestic political issues, the President said that he and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) wanted to establish cooperation with all centrist parties to guarantee long-term stability and remove the current ideas of tying Croatia to the Balkans. He stressed that Croatia was a Central European and Mediterranean country, both historically and culturally. The talks were also attended by Presidential Chief of Staff Ivo Sanader and the President of the Representative Council of Croats in France, Neven Simac, who accompanied Mr Finkelkraut. (hina) vm 181301 MET jun 96