FRANCE WILL BACK CROATIA'S BID TO JOIN EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS

STRASBOURG, Oct 10 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and French President Jacques Chirac discussed bilateral relations and the Bosnian peace process in Strasbourg on Friday. According to sources close to the Croatian delegation currently attending a two-day Council of Europe summit in Strasbourg, the two presidents assessed that there were no open issues between Croatia and France, and that their economic relations were improving. Chirac welcomed President Tudjman's latest moves which had met with approval in Europe, saying that they would have a great effect on the resolution of the crisis. Chirac said that France would support Croatia in its efforts to enter European institutions. Also discussed was the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the role of Croatia and President Tudjman himself in the peace process there, which was assessed as very important. At the end of the first day of the Council of Europe summit, Tudjman would attend a formal dinner given by the French President for the heads of state or government of the countries participating in the conference. The Croatian president was scheduled to address the summit on Saturday morning. Also on Saturday, Tudjman would meet Council of Europe Secretary-General Daniel Tarschys. (hina) vm 102028 MET oct 97