CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES CREDENTIALS FROM IRISH AMBASSADOR

ZAGREB, May 18 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today received credentials from Gearoid O'Clerigh, the Bern-based Ambassador of the Republic of Ireland, a statement from the Presidential Office said. The Irish could understand from their own experience the suffering Croatia had gone through in its bid to gain independence, which was witnessed by Irishmen who served with the EU monitor mission, O'Clerigh said. He expressed his support to the sovereignty of Croatia within its internationally recognized borders. President Tudjman said that, because of many similarities between the two nations, Croatia had wanted to establish diplomatic relations with Ireland at the beginning of its independence, the statement said. (hina) jn rm vm 182007 MET may 95