DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN CROATIA AND AZERBAIDZHAN

ANKARA, Feb 4 (Hina) - The Azerbaidzhan Republic's Foreign Ministry had announced its decision to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Croatia, Croatia's Embassy in Ankara stated Saturday. The Croatian Embassy had led the procedure aimed at establishing the relations with Azerbaidzhan at the level of embassies. According to Azerbaidzhan's note, the relations were established on the grounds of the exchange of notes with the date of January 26, 1995, following Croatia's proposal. The establishment of Croatia's relations with Azerbaidzhan could be regarded as a significant step forward in Croatia's presence in the economically and politically important region of Transcaucasia and central Asia. Politically, Croatia had already showed its willingness to contribute to a peace solution to the Armenian Azerbaidzhan conflict concerning Nagorni Karabah. Croatia offered to send its troops within the planned peace mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The establishment of the close and direct economic cooperation between the two countries as well as the fostering of ties the third countries interested in use of oil and other potentials of Azerbaidzhan were expected to be carried out in the mutual relations between Croatia and Azerbaidzhan, according to the statement from the Croatian Embassy in Ankara. (hina) mms 041910 MET feb 95