THOUSANDS ENTHUSIASTICALLY GREET MESIC IN DOWNTOWN SARAJEVO

SARAJEVO, March 23 (Hina) - More than 3,000 people gathered in downtown Sarajevo on Thursday afternoon to greet Croatian President Stipe Mesic who took a stroll down the Bosnian capital accompanied by Bosnian Presidency chairman Alija Izetbegovic. The gathered enthusiastically cheered "Stipe! Stipe!", while Mesic and Izetbegovic walked down central city streets. The two officials laid flowers by a memorial plaque placed near the city market square in memory of 17 innocent persons killed in one of the many shelling attacks occupied Sarajevo was subjected to in May 1992. Croatia's president later stopped at the "Imperijal" bar where he met prominent Bosnian public and cultural dignitaries and representatives of non-governmental organisations. "What happened here was an aggression and a wrong policy led by those who thought they would create Greater Serbia on the ruins of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Some naive persons in Zagreb also thought it was possible to likewise create Greater Croatia," President Mesic said. He pointed out every war fought for borders was wrong and absurd from the start because it led to the suffering of innocent people which he said was especially unacceptable now that Europe was associating. "I thank all who tried and worked hard for Bosnia-Herzegovina to stay around and survive," he said. During the afternoon, President Mesic visited the Vrhbosna radio station, where he was informed about the work and difficulties of Sarajevo's only medium broadcasting in the Croatian language. In the evening, Mesic received a delegation of the Croatian-Bosnian Friendship Society, and Bosnian Presidency member Ante Jelavic with whom he already had official talks earlier today. (hina) ha mm