PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES RUSSIAN OIL MANUFACTURERS

ZAGREB, Feb 12 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today received representatives of the Association of Oil Companies of the Russian Federation, led by YUKOS Corporation President Sergei Muravlenko, the President's office said in a statement. Following is the full text of the statement: "Also present were Russian Ambassador to Croatia, Leonid Kerestedzhyants, the chairman of the INA Oil Co. supervisory board Hrvoje Sarinic (who doubles as President Tudjman's chief advisor), INA's general manager Andrija Kojakovic, AMERCO President Nikola Marakovic and coordinator Zeljko Tomljenovic. The delegation informed President Tudjman of the activities of the YUKOS company, the second biggest oil manufacturer in the Russian Federation, and the planned development of the cooperation between YUKOS and INA, which would be furthered today by the signing of a protocol on cooperation and the establishment of four expert groups. Welcoming the delegation, President Tudjman said Croatia was interested in developing deeper economic and political ties with the Russian Federation. In this way, INA and YUKOS could play a positive role in bringing closer the two countries, in which endeavour they would have the President's full support. President Tudjman was accompanied by his Chief-of-staff, Ivo Sanader, and his advisor on economic issues, Marko Skreb." (hina) mm as 121740 MET feb 96