PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Zagreb, 12 March (Hina) - Croatian President Dr. Franjo Tudjman received Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium Erik Derycke Tuesday. Mr. Derycke was accompanied with the Belgian ambassador to Croatia Frans Hintjens, main advisor for political affairs Frans van Daele and special commissioner for UNTAES Thierry de Gruben, said the President's office. "The President opened by thanking the Belgian minister for the active contribution Belgian battalion has made to UNCRO and UNTAES and its positive role. President Tudjman then informed Minister Derycke about the Croatian government's stand on the key issues concerning the peace process in Croatia and in the neighbouring BH. Stressing the importance of an imminent peaceful reintegration of occupied areas of E. Slavonia, Baranja and W. Srijem, the President said the implementation of the Basic agreement would facilitate not only the normalization of Croatian-Serbian relations but also a successful resolution of the crisis in BH. In spite of all the difficulties, we are firmly committed to the implementation of the Washington and Dayton agreements, because that is in the interest of Croat and Bosniak peoples and the establishment of a stable international order, said the President of the Republic. Minister Derycke said Belgium also desires an imminent reintegration of the Croatian Danube region, so that difficulties - might be avoided and UNTAES' mission completed by the end of this year. The agenda also involved integration of Croatia into European and global integrative mechanisms, an effort that will be backed by Belgium. Bilateral relations were said to be improving, with Belgian companies preparing for an active cooperation with Croatian partners within the next few months. Present at the talks were also President Tudjman's Chief-Of-Staff Ivo Sanader, President's Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr. Zeljko Matic and Deputy Foreign Minister Hido Biscevic," wraps up the statement. 122213 MET mar 96