PRESIDENT TUDJMAN GIVES NEW YEAR RECEPTION FOR DIPLOMATIC CORPS

( Editorial: --> 4378 ) ZAGREB, 14 Jan (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and his wife Ankica on Wednesday gave a New Year reception for members of the Diplomatic corps accredited in Croatia, representatives of international organisations and foreign military attaches. Addressing President Tudjman on behalf of the Diplomatic corps, papal nuncio Msgr. Giulio Einaudi stressed that today's meeting was marked by "deep friendship that commits us to work in the interest of peace for our peoples". The year 1997 was rich with events, Msgr. Einaudi said, recalling that President Tudjman had again won the trust of the Croatian people in the June elections. "In the past year we followed the course of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube River region and the constructive role of the Croatian government, as well as its full cooperation with the U.N.," said the doyen of the Diplomatic corps. For 1998, he wished Croatia prosperity and happiness for all its citizens, as well as openness toward the world. Extending his wishes for peace and contentment in the New Year, President Tudjman told the Diplomatic corps they could rest assured that Croatian authorities would continue the policy which helped the completion of the peaceful reintegration of the Danube River region with the help of the international community. Tudjman said he expected the international community to help Croatia in reconstructing its war-destroyed areas as well as in the return of displaced people. He added that Croatia would have a constructive role in international relations in solving problems with Yugoslavia, solving open questions with Slovenia and implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The New Year reception was also attended by Parliament Speaker Vlatko Pavletic, Premier Zlatko Matesa and other high state officials. (hina) jn rm 141436 MET jan 98