CROATIA SUPPORTS HUNGARY'S NATO MEMBERSHIP BID

BUDAPEST, Feb 28 (Hina) - A Croatian army delegation headed by Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Pavao Miljavac concluded a two-day visit to Hungary on Friday. The Croatian delegates on Friday met Istvan Fodor, political secretary at the Hungarian Defence Ministry, to discuss the military cooperation between the two countries and their efforts to enter NATO as soon as possible. At a news conference in the Hungarian Defence Ministry building in Budapest, the two sides described the visit as very successful and useful to both countries. Miljavac said that Croatia supported Hungary's bid to enter the Atlantic alliance because it was also in the interest of Croatia's security. The Croatian army was also making preparations for admission to that military alliance, for which Croatia expected support from neighbouring countries such as Hungary, Miljavac said. Hungarian army Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Ferenc Vegh assessed very favourably the cooperation between the Croatian and Hungarian armed forces. Vegh noted that the overall cooperation between the two countries contributed considerably to the general stability of the region. (hina) vm mm 281855 MET feb 97