CROATIA AND BULGARIA WANT TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN RELATIONS

ZAGREB, Jan 17 (Hina) - The Presidents of Croatia and Bulgaria, Franjo Tudjman and Zhelyu Zhelev, on Wednesday supported further strengthening of friendly relations and cooperation between their countries. During an hour-long meeting between delegations of the two countries, Tudjman said that Croatia wanted to reintegrate the remaining part of its territory peacefully. Speaking of the situation in the region, he said that the most important issue at the moment was the resolution of the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Tudjman stressed that the normalization of relations between Croatia and Serbia was a precondition for peace in the entire area of former Yugoslavia and South-Eastern Europe. But Croatia opposed ideas of linking former Yugoslav republics into some kind of a union or confederation, he added. Zhelev agreed that there was no need to create a new federation or confederation in former Yugoslavia. However, the establishment of normal bilateral relations between all countries in the region was necessary, he added. Zhelev emphasized Bulgaria's interest in the construction of an East-West motorway that would link Turkey, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania and Italy, adding that this route could be further linked to the Adriatic motorway. He said that his country was interested in participating in the reconstruction of war-ravaged parts of Croatia. Zhelev stressed that Bulgaria would support Croatia's applications for admission to European integrations and the so-called Black Sea Alliance. Tudjman said that Croatia was interested in the East-West road link and promised support to Bulgaria's participation in the rebuilding of Croatia. He pointed out that Croatia would like to have a guest status or be an associate member of the Black Sea Alliance. (hina) vm 172331 MET jan 96