STATEMENT OF MACEDONIAN PREMIER AFTER HIS VISIT TO CROATIA

SKOPJE, July 6 (Hina) - Upon arrival at Skopje airport this evening from a two-day visit to Croatia Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski declared that his visit to Zagreb had been very successful because of signing six agreements on friendship and cooperation between Macedonia and Croatia and because of the fact confirmed at the talks with Croatian President Dr. Franjo Tudjman and other high officials, that the bilateral relations were on the rise. Prime Minister Crvenkovski said that the two countries' embassies would be opened in Skopje and Zagreb next September. This would be an incentive that relations between former Yugoslav republics could be successfully arranged as the example of Croatian-Macedonian ties might show. Commenting on Croatia's response to and stance on the Croat- Bosniac Federation in Bosnia-Herzegovina and its proposed confederation with Croatia Macedonian Prime Minister said that Macedonia was also interested in a peace plan and proposals given by the five-power "contact group" in accordance to which newly established countries on the area of former Yugoslavia should recognize each other as well. 062049 MET jul 94