PRESIDENT TUDJMAN'S VISIT TO ISRAEL IS UNDER PREPARATION

ZAGREB, Oct 20 (Hina) - Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy confirmed the visit of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to Israel was under preparations, chief secretary at the Israeli Embassy in Vienna, Michael Lotem, told Hina Wednesday. The only thing left is to establish the date, Lotem said. He added the Israeli radio on Wednesday had broadcast a statement by the spokeswoman for Israeli President Ezer Wiezman, saying that Tudjman could travel to Israel the upcoming January. Director of Jerusalem's Simon Wiesenthal Centre, Efraim Zuroff, on Tuesday said in a statement forwarded to Levy that he congratulated the Foreign Minister for his opposition to Tudjman's visit to Israel. Explaining the course of events to Hina, Lotem said during a parliamentary foreign affairs committee session on Monday, MP Tommy Lapid cited alleged claims by the Croatian President and requested that his visit to Israel be postponed. Minister Levy did not express opposition to the visit of President Tudjman to Israel, Israeli Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Daniel Saada said. Minister Levy said at the committee session that he would study the alleged claims and the issue would be resolved within the next several days, Saada said. (hina) lml jn