TUDJMAN VISITS GRACAC

GRACAC, Oct 16 (Hina) - Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman on Saturday visited the central Croatian town of Gracac after he marked the end of the digging of the Sveti Rok Tunnel through Mount Velebit. Addressing residents of Gracac and Lika-Senj County, Tudjman told them that he wanted to express his support to them by his visit to this Croatian area. Tudjman promised that nobody would ever expel them from the Croatian land or threaten Croatia's independence. "We have created the independent and sovereign Croatian state and it is up to all of us to preserve it," Tudjman said warning that there were still some who could not become reconciled with the independent Croatian state but would like to push it back into the Balkans and south Slavic associations. "Each of us must try to ensure their own and Croatia's future," Tudjman told the gathered saying that the Croatian state would enable everybody who wants to return, to come back and it will function in interest of all its citizens and their well-being. Addressing Croats who left central Bosnia during to the Serb aggression and are now living in Gracac, Tudjman said they can return safely only to those Bosnian areas that have Croat authorities. As I had believed, since 1990, that we would win, so I believe today that we shall overcome the current economic difficulties, Tudjman said expressing his confidence that the Croatian people will know how to ensure a better future for themselves. He added that Croatia "will allow the return of Serbs who did not stain their hands with blood, but they will never again rule over the Croatian people." The Mayor of Gracac, Tadija Sisic, said this is one of the largest municipalities in Croatia according to the area it occupies and has 6,000 residents many of whom are central Bosnian Croat refugees. (hina) ms