PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES GREEK DELEGATION

ZAGREB, Nov 10 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman received Wednesday a delegation of the Republic of Greece led by Foreign Minister Karlos Papoulias, said the Croatian President's Office. President Tudjman informed the guests about Croatia's attitudes on the resolution of the crisis on the territory of the former Yugoslavia and about the Peace Initiative he undertook with that aim. The President stressed that Croatia is willing to have good relations with Greece because of great possiblities of the bilateral co-operation. Greece has the important position in the regions of Balkans and Mediterranean, and as a member of the European Union (EU), the future chairman of the Ministerial Council of the EU and a member of NATO, Greece can play an important role in finding a permanent resolution of the crisis and normalization of the relations on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. Minister Papoulias stressed that the normalization of the Serb-Croatian relations is a fundamental precondition of the stable peace. President Tudjman said that Croatia is ready for the normalization of the relations on the basis of the mutual recognition of Croatia and Federative Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) within the internationally recognized borders. Croatia's concrete proposals for the resolution of the issue on UNPA's are presented in the Peace Initiative. President Tudjman emphasized that the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina is one of the most complicated problems the international community faces now because of religious and inter-ethnic contrasts, and contrasts of different civilizations. Croatia is interested in immediate halting of the war on the basis of the agreement on the Union of the Republics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is accepted in principle by all the three sides. The international community should decide on open issues on demarcation and must guarantee the implementation of the accepted ceasefire agreement with the authority to use force against those who violates the agreement. Greek Foreign Minister Papoulias stressed the importance which Greece attaches to the development of the friendly relations with Croatia. The Greek foreign policy will be directed to the normalization of the relations between Croatia and Serbia. Minister Papoulias thinks that Greece could play the important role in the resolution of the crisis and achieving of the stability on the entire territory because of connections with NATO and the EU. Supporting President Tudjman's Peace Initiative for the resolution of the issue on UNPA's and achieving of peace in B-H, Minister Papoulias said that Greece is ready to help in finding the permanent peace. In the end of the talks, President Tudjman expressed satisfaction that they agreed on all the crucial issues on establishment of peace, and he accepted the official invitation to visit Greece. + 101935 MET nov 93