TUDJMAN-KORNBLUM TALKS FOCUS ON CROATIAN-US COOPERATION IN IMPLEME

IMPLEME $ NTATION OF PEACE ZAGREB, Jan 13 (Hina) - Croatia and the United States will continue cooperating in the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement and the consolidation of the Bosnian Federation and democracy in the region, US Assistant Secretary of State John Kornblum said in Zagreb on Monday after meeting Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. Kornblum told reporters that his talks with Tudjman focused on bilateral relations between the United States and Croatia, the peaceful reintegration of UN-administered eastern Croatia and the implementation of the Dayton peace agreement in BosniaHerzegovina. I stressed that it was very important to have cooperation in the development of openness to democracy in the region, he said. Kornblum stressed that the US regarded the Croat-Moslem Federation as one of the most important aspects of the consolidation of peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina, adding that he and Tudjman discussed possibilities of the joint promotion of the Federation. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic said that Croatia, as a Central European and Mediterranean country, would take an active part in implementing the Washington and Dayton accords, particularly in strengthening the Bosnian Federation. Speaking of foreign policy goals, Granic said that Croatia wanted to integrate into Central Europe and Euro-Atlantic institutions but that it was also open to full cooperation with all countries in Southeastern Europe, particularly in communications, environmental and economic projects. + Asked whether Croatia had already decided to accept the US-sponsored regional initiative for cooperation in Southeastern Europe (known as SECI), Granic replied that Croatia would make its decision after explanations which are to be given on the initiative by a US special envoy for the SECI, Ambassador Richard Schifter. U.S. Ambassador Schifter, on Tuesday will meet Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, Premier Zlatko Matesa and Foreign Minister Mate Granic, in Zagreb. + President said firmly that we do not want any integration within Southeastern Europe, but on the other hand, we back up all aspects of cooperation, normalization of relations and projects, Granic said. (hina) vm mš 132246 MET jan 97