ARGENTINIAN AND CROATIAN PRESIDENTS MEET IN BUENOS AIRES

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 1 (Hina) - The presidents of Argentina and Croatia, Carlos Menem and Franjo Tudjman, yesterday met at the Government Palace in Buenos Aires to discuss the situation in South-East Europe and bilateral relations between the two countries. The talks also included the foreign ministers, Guido di Tello of Argentina and Mate Granic of Croatia, and several other senior officials. During Tudjman's visit, Croatia and Argentina were expected to sign agreements on protecting investment, preventing double taxation, annulling visa requirements and boosting scientific and technological cooperation. Granic said after the talks that the signing of the four bilateral agreements would boost relations between the two countries. Granic said Menem expressed deep understanding for the current situation in Croatia, adding that Argentinian UN peace- keepers deployed in Croatia would stay with the UN Protection Force if necessary. He also supported Croatia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Granic said. Tudjman noted many contradictions in the present situation in the region, particularly in Bosnia-Herzegovina, supporting international efforts to peacefully resolve the conflict. The Croatian president blamed Belgrade for starting the war and pointed out a danger of Islamic radicalism unless a just and lasting solution to the Bosnian conflict was found, Granic said. (hina) vm 011118 MET dec 94