UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOLDS COMMEMORATION IN HONOUR OF TUDJMAN

NEW YORK, Dec 15 (Hina) - The UN General Assembly on Wednesday held a commemorative plenary session in honour of the late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. The session was chaired by Namibian Foreign Minister Theo-Ben Gurirab. Opening the session, Gurirab expressed condolences on behalf of the UN to the Croatian Government and people on the death of President Tudjman. The first Croatian President, Franjo Tudjman, died late Friday night. According to an established protocol, condolences were also extended by representatives of regional groups of UN member countries. Cameron's Ambassador spoke on behalf of the African group, Bangladesh's representative on behalf of Asian countries and the Czech Ambassador spoke before countries of the East European group. "President Tudjman symbolised modern Croatia and steered its course in the last decade. An important part of the region's history leaves with this fighter, scholar and politician. From his legacy we would like to wish Croatia every success in continued building of a democratic, peaceful and prosperous European nation," Czech Ambassador to the UN, Vladimir Galuska said. speaking at the session was also the Ambassador of Luxembourg, on behalf of Western countries, and the Ambassador of Saint Lucia extended condolences on behalf of countries of Latin America. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke spoke on behalf of the United States. He called President Tudjman a personal friend and an important historic person of Europe in this century. Holbrooke recalled his, as he said, more than a hundred meetings with President Tudjman. He was a persistent negotiator and consistently advocated the interests of his people, he said. According to Holbrooke, Croatia has not yet fulfilled all the goals drawn by Tudjman. Croatian representative at the UN, Ivan Simonovic, spoke about the life and work of President Tudjman at the commemorative session. He said Tudjman had led Croatia in the most difficult moments of its existence. "He was not merely a witness of the passing events which occurred in Croatia (...) he was an active participant and, in the past decade, a leader who was instrumental in achieving an independent Croatia," Simonovic said. (hina) lml mm