PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RETURNS FROM VISIT TO USO

ZAGREB, 3 August (Hna) - On Saturday morning Croatian President Franjo Tudjman returned to Zagreb from a two day working visit to Washington, initiated by the US President Bill Clinton. Speaking to the press at the Zagreb airpoort, president Tudjman said the Croatian delegation's talks with President Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and their associates strengthened friendship and partnership between Croatia and the USA, as well as the two countries' common views on important issues. "MOst importantly, the USA fully supported our stand that we belong to central Europe and not to the Balkans, and that is something we were interested in. By the same token, we agreed to work jointly on the implementation of the Dayton accords, concerning the BH Federation and related issues, i.e. the Mostar elections and the forthcoming general elections in BH, so that relations in the Federation could be completely harmonious and the Federation linked with Croatia", said President Tudjman. At the Zagreb airport President Tudjman was welcomed by Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa, President of the Representative House of the Sabor, Katica Ivanisevic, Deputy President of the House, Jadranka Kosor, Interior Minister, Ivan Jarnjak and Chief- of-Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces, General Zvonimir Cervenko. hj (Hina) 031204 MET aug 96