ARAS ASKS MESIC TO MEET ZADAR CITY COUNCIL DELEGATION

ZADAR, Nov 6 (Hina) - Davor Aras, president of the Zadar City Council said at a press conference Tuesday he had asked Croatian President Stjepan Mesic to receive a council delegation for talks. We want President Mesic to explain to our delegates why he was satisfied with a recent telephone talk with Italian President Ciampi, Aras said. He added Ciampi's recent decision to bestow a decoration on the so- called Italian government of Zadar had caused certain anxiety in Zadar. The decoration is being bestowed on a fascist authority, and the entire world, including Italy, has condemned fascism. We refuse Ciampi's postponement of the decision and want him to withdraw it completely, Aras said. The Zadar City Council and Croatia should never accept the fact that Italy will confer a decoration on the Italian government of Zadar in exile that was fascist, Aras added. According to Aras, the existence of the so-called Italian government of Zadar alone is contaminating relations between Croatia and Italy. There may be an association of people from Zadar in Italy, but not an Italian government of Zadar as an institution, Aras said. He reminded Zadar had always made efforts to be a factor of good relations between Italy and Croatia, and had friendly relations with several Italian cities, but it did not accept any Italian government of the city in Italy. (hina) np