TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEIVES CROATIAN AMBASSADOR

ZAGREB, Nov 18 (Hina) - Turkish President Suleyman Demirel on Thursday received the personal envoy of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, Ambassador Hidajet Biscevic, who handed him a personal letter and informed him of the basic ideas of the Croatian President's peace initiative. Relaying greetings from President Tudjman as well as gratitude for efforts Turkey and President Demirel personally had so far made to bring about a durable peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ambassador Biscevic expressed particular gratitude for the support and involvement of Turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin in solving the relations between the Croatian and Moslem communities in Bosnia- Herzegovina. He expressed thanks for the letter by which Minister Cetin had informed the ministers of the European Union of the results of his mission in Sarajevo. The Turkish Minister was informed in detail of the contents, objectives and forms of the implementation of the peace initiative of the Croatian President. He supported the proposal for a solution to the status of the temporarily occupied territories in Croatia and the overall settlement of the Serbian issue in Croatia. President Demirel was particularly interested in the proposal of the resolution of the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ambassador Biscevic informed the Turkish President of the concrete proposals for the cessation of hostilities between the Bosnian Army and the Croatian Defence Council (HVO), which will be discussed in line with the Sarajevo Declaration signed last week by Bosnian Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic and Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic. Expressing support for the Croatian President's peace effort, President Demirel pledged that Turkey would continue to extend active assistance in a bid to bring about a solution to the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Turkey attaches particular importance to a firm cease-fire agreement and the position of the Croats and Moslems in the Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina. 181952 MET nov 93