PRESIDENT TUDJMAN VISITS MONUMENT ERECTED FOR SOUTH AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS

PRETORIA, June 17 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Thursday visited the Voortrekker monument near Pretoria, the capital of the Republic of South Africa. The monument was erected in memory of South African immigrants. A meeting between the Croatian President and the new South African President, Thabo Mbeki, was cancelled due to Mbeki's obligations. President Tudjman, President Mbeki, former South African President Nelson Mandela, and other officials attended a diner reception in honour of the new South African President Wednesday evening. Tudjman refuted headlines on his alleged exhaustion, published in several Croatian newspapers. After visiting the monument, Tudjman and his associates visited the Croatian Embassy in Pretoria. Later in the day, Croatian President will hold talks with Croats living in the South African Republic. The meeting will be held in the Croatian Centre and the Croatian Catholic Community in Johannesburg. On Thursday evening, the Croatian President is to attend a dinner with representatives of the Croatian community in the Republic of South Africa. On Friday afternoon, Tudjman will visit Croats in Cape Town, and will then depart for Croatia. (hina) it