PRESIDENT TUDJMAN MEETS WITH CROATS IN JOHANNEESBURG

JOHANNESBURG, June 17 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Thursday called on Croats in South Africa to return home in as large a number as possible. "The Croatian democratic state was jointly elected by immigrant and homeland Croats. It is time for as many Croats as possible to return to Croatia", said President Tudjman in the Croatian Centre in Johannesburg. Reflecting on the problems encountered by ex-patriots with the beauracracy, President Tudjman said that this state needed to be attended to. At a meeting with a second group of Croats in the Croatian Catholic Community in Johannesburg, President Tudjman said that ex-patriots "should not expect milk and honey", however, he expressed his belief that that which these people have achieved in immigration could help them achieve a great deal in Croatia. "Return to the homeland", said Croatia's president to Croats in South Africa. There is some eight to eight and a half thousand Croats in South Africa. President Tudjman on Wednesday attended the inauguration of the new South African president Thabo Mbeki and during his visit, is to conduct several meetings with the local Croats. 8hina) jn sp