TUDJMAN'S OFFICE ON PRESS REPORTS ON ALLEGED CANCELLATION OF HIS VISIT TO ISRAEL

HIS VISIT TO ISRAEL ( Editorial: --> 8702 ) ZAGREB, Nov 6 (Hina) - In connection with domestic and foreign press reports on "an outrageous diplomatic scandal" and the alleged cancellation of a visit by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to Israel, the President's Office issued a statement on Thursday pointing out the following facts in order to objectively inform the public: "During the talks which led to the signing of the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Croatia and the State of Israel, both sides expressed interest for the two countries to develop their relations in the best interests of their peoples, to which meetings, including those at the highest level, contribute. All these activities, as is common practice, are discussed through diplomatic channels, in which there are certain rules of conduct. In order to reach an agreement on inter-state meetings, especially on the highest level, a number of factors are important, including the internal political situation in a country, election dates, statesmen's duties and a country's involvement in solving the issues of the highest strategic interest. Therefore, the aforementioned reports, based on the interventions of two members of the 120-member Knesset, come from the circles which are known to have previously acted against the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Croatia and the State of Israel, and now that the two countries have established diplomatic relations, they are acting against the development of their overall relations. It is undeniable that the official bodies of the two countries support the development of mutual relations and the holding of international meetings at the highest level when that is convenient for both countries," the statement said. (hina) lm jn 061732 MET nov 97