TURKEY'S PRESIDENT DEMIREL RENDERS SPEECH IN CROAT PARLIAMENT

ZAGREB, July 16 (Hina) - Turkey's President Suleyman Demirel rendered a speech at today's solemn session of the Croatian Parliament's both houses. "I know it is not easy for Croatian people to achieve freedom while a considerable part of your territory is still under occupation," said President Demirel adding: "Turkish people deeply appreciate and praises your democratic and honourable struggles, based on respect of the international law, and pays tribute to Croatia especially for acceptance of refugees and displaced persons fleeing in fear of savagery in Bosnia-Herzegovina." According to Turkish President, the ethnical division should be avoided in Bosnia-Herzegovina so that the country could maintain multinational, multireligious and multicultural structure, since it is of the special significance for the Republic of Croatia, for the entire region, for the Balkans, as well as for the peace and stability in Europe." "Turkey supports the establishment of close cooperation between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, and it considers that good steeps have been done in the implementation of the Bosniac-Croat Federation," stressed President Demirel and added that the real designers of an idea of the Bosniac-Croat Federation were Turkey, Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Turkish President emphasized that "from this moment we have to focus our joint mission to the efforts aimed at including the Serb people as well" into the establishment of the peace and cooperation in this region. 161713 MET jul 94