PRESIDENT TUDJMAN WRITES TO BILL CLINTON AND BORIS YELTSIN

( Editorial: --> 3427 ) ZAGREB, Feb 20 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman forwarded letters to the presidents of the United States and Russia, Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin, pertaining to important issues of bilateral relations and the current situation in this part of Europe, Tudjman's Office said in a statement on Friday. Croatian President's Chief-of-Staff, Hrvoje Sarinic, handed the letters to the US Ambassador to Croatia, William Montgomery, and to the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Mecheslav Senkevich. In his letter to President Clinton, Tudjman expressed gratitude to the US government and President Clinton personally for their support in the process of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube River region, through which Croatia's territorial integrity had been achieved and the situation in this part of Europe improved. In reply to Clinton's letter dated 16 January 1998, Tudjman positively described the relations between the US and Croatia and confirmed Croatia's readiness to significantly promote bilateral cooperation in all areas. A new stimulus to this, especially in the economy, would be derived from the construction of the highway from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, through Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as the construction of other infrastructure. Such relations and tight cooperation in solving other strategic issues, especially in the implementation of the peace process in Bosnia-Herzegovina, proved common interests and goals of the Republic of Croatia and the United States of America, the letter said. The development of relations between Croatia and the Russian Federation to date had resulted in both countries' interest in a significant promotion of bilateral cooperation and the intensifying of political dialogue about solving issues on the creation of the European security system. Tudjman forwarded a letter to Yeltsin with that aim, in which he cited his views of the situation in this part of Europe, with notes on Croatian interests and possibilities of cooperation. Tudjman also expressed readiness for the promotion of economic, trade, cultural and other relations between the two countries and peoples. In his letter to President Yeltsin, Tudjman expressed his gratitude for Russia's principled stance towards Croatia's territorial integrity and independence, and its constructive contribution to the peace process through military and political measures. (hina) lm mm 201330 MET feb 98