CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES FRENCH FINANCE MINISTER - STATEMENT

ZAGREB, June 3 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday received French Finance and Foreign Trade Minister Yves Galland, the President's Office said in a statement. Relaying greetings from French President Jacques Chirac, Galland said that the purpose of his visit was to boost economic copperation between the two countries. The President said that Croatia was interested in cooperation with France in all areas because Croatia, contrary to the prevailing opinion of the French public, did not want to be tied to any country in particular. Tudjman stressed the great influence of French culture on Croatian culture and art. The President said that the Croatian government and he personally hoped that Galland's visit would yield concrete results at the economic level. Galland said that he knew that cultural cooperation between the two nations had existed for five centuries and that presidents Tudjman and Chirac had given fresh incentives to bilateral relations. France had participated in the peace process and now it also wanted to participate in reconstruction projects, Galland said, emphasizing his admiration for the will and enthusiasm of the Croatian people. Wishing Minister Galland and the French business delegation a successful visit, the President said that France could realize successful cooperation with the Bosnian Federation through Croatia. The talks were also attended by Presidential Chief of Staff Ivo Sanader, Chief Adviser Hrvoje Sarinic, Economy Minister Davor Stern and Presidential Adviser on Economic Affairs Darko Greguric, the statement concluded. (hina) vm 031443 MET jun 96