DECLARATION ON VISIT OF CROATIAN PRESIDENT TO POPE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 28, 1999 (VIS) - This afternoon, Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration:

"Today, Thursday October 28, 1999, the Holy Father received Franjo Tudjman, president of the Republic of Croatia, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Mate Granic and an entourage.

"Later, President Tudjman visited Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano. Also present at the meeting was Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran, secretary for Relations with States.

"The question of Croatia's present situation was raised during the course of the talks, as was its position in the European and international context. The relationship between Church and State was examined in the light of the four recently signed accords and of the cordial collaboration that has been established between the two parties."

OP;...;...;TUDJMAN; SODANO; NAVARRO-VALLS;VIS;19991028;Word: 140;