CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES PORTUGUESE FOREIGN MINISTER

( Editorial: --> 0327 ) ZAGREB, Dec 22 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman received Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama on Monday, the President's Office said in a statement. Tudjman stressed the positive role Portugal had played in solving the crisis in the former Yugoslavia. The termination of the UNTAES mandate and the restoration of full authority over the entire territory of the Croatian state marks the end of one period, the President said. Now we can dedicate ourselves to efforts aimed entering Euro- Atlantic institutions, for which all preconditions have been created thanks to the existing democratic system and the stable economy, he added. Tudjman expressed hope that Croatia would have Portugal's support in those efforts. Gama said that Croatia belonged to the nucleus of Europe and that Portugal would fully support its efforts to join Euro-Atlantic integration processes. Tudjman congratulated Portugal on organising next year's World Exposition, expressing confidence that Croatia's participation in the exhibition would contribute to the better understanding and development of versatile relations between Croatia and Portugal. Also attending the meeting were Foreign Minister Mate Granic, Presidential Foreign Policy Adviser Neven Madey and Ambassador to Portugal Marko Zaja, the statement concluded. (hina) vm 221612 MET dec 97