ZADAR CITY COUNCIL OFFICIALS SPEAK OF TALKS WITH PRESIDENT MESIC

ZADAR, Nov 25 (Hina) - President of the Zadar City Council, Davor Aras and Mayor Bozidar Kalmeta, who were received on Friday by Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, on Sunday held a news conference at which they informed reporters about their talks. Aras said Mesic confirmed to the Zadar delegation that he had received a guarantee from Italian President Ciampi that he would freeze his decision about the so-called Free Municipality of Zadar in exile. Aras said that the freezing of a decision usually meant that the decision would be withdrawn, and the Zadar authorities hoped that Ciampi would not bestow a medal on the so-called Free Municipality of Zadar in exile from World War Two. According to him, Mesic said Zadar's reactions to Ciampi's decision were appropriate. At a session on November 13, the City Council denounced the decision by Italy's President on bestowing a medal on the fascist authorities of the Zadar of 1943, concluding the decision was in contrast to friendly relations between Croatia and Italy. Aras also said the talks with Mesic focused on pronouncing retired General Gotovina (indicted by the Hague-based war crimes tribunal) as honorary resident of Zadar. Mesic said this was the autonomous decision of the City Council, and he voiced 90 percent of agreement with it , Aras said, adding that the delegation had informed him that the honorary resident charter would be handed to General Gotovina when conditions are met for this. (hina) lml