CROATIA AND TURKEY SIGN AGREEMENT ON FRIENDSHIP AND CO-OPERATION

ZAGREB, July 16 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Turkish President Suleyman Demirel signed an agreement on friendship and co-operation between the two countries in Zagreb on Saturday morning, in the presence of Croatian and Turkish senior officials. After the signing, President Tudjman said that by this act "another important step is made toward the establishment of friendship and co-operation between the two countries." President Demirel said that the Turkish-Croatian relations were good, predicting "a great future" to the development of the relations. Afterwards, President Tudjman delivered the highest Croatian decoration, the Order of King Tomislav, to President Demirel for his "exceptional credits in the development of friendship between the two countries." President Tudjman said that Turkey and President Demirel in person contributed to creating of new relations in this part of Europe. President Demirel thanked President Tudjman for the highest Croatian decoration and stressed that Turkey would always "support the independence and territorial integrity of Croatia." He said that the Turkish-Croatian relations were of importance for achieving peace in the Balkans and added that he hoped a just and lasting peace would be achieved in the region. After that, President Tudjman delivered the Order of Prince Trpimir to Turkish Foreign Minister Hikmet Cetin stressing that from the very beginning of establishing the democratic Croatia Minister Cetin had been supporting Croatia and advocating the resolution of the Bosnian crisis. Expressing his gratitude for this high Croatian decoration, Minister Cetin stressed that "the Balkans needed peace and that Turkey and Croatia would continue supporting the policy of peace and stability in the region." 161230 MET jul 94