FILTER
Prikaži samo sadržaje koji zadovoljavaju:
objavljeni u periodu:
na jeziku:
hrvatski engleski
sadrže pojam:

TUDJMAN PRESENTS INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS WITH GRATITUDE CHARTERS

( Editorial: --> 5044 ) ZAGREB, Jan 16 (Hina) - On occasion of the completion of the UNTAES mandate and the finalisation of territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Friday presented Charters of Gratitude to officials of the UN and international organisations. As well Tudjman awarded "Vukovar" memorial medals to Croatian state officials and deserving citizens, who also contributed to the realisation of the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube river region into Croatia's legal and constitutional system. Greeting those present, Tudjman forwarded greetings to Croatian soldiers, displaced persons, refugees, victims and officials who were not present at the ceremony, but were present in spirit and shared the joy and memories of the past period and their great sufferings and achievements. Addressing the gathering, Tudjman recalled an earlier expressed thought that the war had begun in Vukovar and that it would end in that town-sufferer and symbol of Croatia's resistance and determination in the fight for freedom and independence. Thursday's handover of the Croatian Danubian region to representatives of Croatian authority finally marked the end of aggression on Croatia and the occupation of the last piece of its territory, and by arriving at their border on the river Danube, the Croatian people had confirmed their magnificent victory in a war that had been imposed on them, Tudjman said. Messages for the future remain for those who had initiated the aggression on Croatia and who had not become reconciled with its independence, Tudjman said. Having achieved victories on the diplomatic and military fronts, Croatia is ready for forgiveness and creation of trust for coexistence, on the construction of bridges of friendly relations among neighbours and all European countries in the interest of peace and stability of the international order, Tudjman said. He recalled the arrival of United Nations peace forces in 1992, who had been welcomed with great hope, but their mission had "turned into a long and uncertain presence", "especially due to an insufficient mandate for maintaining a cease-fire and due to the extension of the occupation of almost a third of Croatian territory". Changed circumstances created after great victories of the Croatian army, and the liberation of central occupied areas, enabled the remaining occupied regions - the Croatian Danube river region - to be liberated peacefully, without new victims and damaging consequences. UNTAES (UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium) led by General Klein and Ambassador Walker played a big role in this, and thanks to exemplary cooperation with Croatian authorities and the local Serb population, the peaceful reintegration of the region into the constitutional and legal system of the Republic of Croatia had been successfully completed, along with the establishment of peace, security and stability in this part of Europe, Tudjman stressed. The UN and international community, in which the United States had had an especially important role, can be proud of UNTAES's exceptionally successful peace operation in Croatia. The all round successful completion of the UNTAES mandate can serve as a stimulation to new UN operations in other world regions endangered or in crisis, Tudjman said. Presenting the UN Secretary-General's envoy, Bernard Miyet, with the Charter of Gratitude as an exceptional and special commendation for the overall contribution of the UN to the establishment of peace and humanitarian operations in war-ravaged areas of the independent and sovereign state of Croatia from 1992 to 1997, Tudjman asked Miyet to relay his greetings and commendations to Kofi Annan for his personal contribution to the success of this peace mission. Continuing his speech, Tudjman stressed that the successful realisation of the mission had also been achieved by individuals - besides the UN Secretary-General and Under-Secretary for peace operations, the former Transitional Administrator Jacques Paul Klein and the present Administrator Mr. William Walker played the key roles. "To them and all officials we owe and forward special thanks for their particular contribution, and through them the country participants in UNTAES (Belgium, Russia, Jordan, Pakistan, Poland, the Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Argentina) who enabled the service of peace with their troops," Tudjman said. Many members of the peace mission have built their lives into the noble mission of peace, Tudjman recalled, relaying the message to their families and states that the government and the people of the Republic of Croatia expressed their lasting gratitude and reverence. Expressing special gratitude, Tudjman also recalled the contribution of international senior officials who had given their contribution to the successful completion of the peace process from the signing of the Erdut Agreement up until Thursday. Presenting the "Vukovar" memorial medal to the present state officials and citizens deserving credit for the successful peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area, among whom were reporters, Tudjman thanked them for their self-sacrificing work. Tudjman presented the "Vukovar" memorial medals to the most deserving individuals, members of the local Serb population who had accepted Croatia as their homeland, as a sign of recognition for their contribution to the peaceful reintegration; and the Charter of gratitude to the Serb National Council (SNV), Association of (Serb-majority) Municipal Councils (ZVO) and the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS). Through this symbolic act - the presentation of Charters - we are relaying a message to all citizens of Serb nationality that "they can look to their future in Croatia with confidence", Tudjman said. At the end of his speech, Tudjman said that as the head of the Croatian state, expressing recognition and gratitude, he wanted to relay the message that overall authority would continue after 15 January 1998 with the implementation of the policy which had enabled the establishment of the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia, which was included in the National Programme of the establishment of trust, accelerated return and normalisation of life in war-ravaged areas. We guarantee its implementation, Tudjman said, asking the international community for more help and contribution to reconstruction and development. We shall not allow any acts of extremism by individuals which would jeopardise the state politics and the interest of peace, Tudjman said. Considering the fact that the Croatian Danube river region is a bordering area with Yugoslavia, we invite this neighbouring country to a continuation of talks and a speedy implementation of all provisions of the Agreement on the Normalisation of Relations, Tudjman said, adding that through this, the two countries were turning towards the establishment of good neighbourly relations and stability of peace in this region. As it entered a new era of its peace-time reconstruction, Croatia wanted to increase its efforts to, as a constructive and active factor, contribute to the completion of the peace process in Bosnia-Herzegovina on the basis of the Washington and Dayton agreements. By achieving sovereignty over all its territory, conditions had been created for Croatia to be effectively introduced into Euro- Atlantic economic and security associations, Tudjman said. At the end of his speech, Tudjman handed out crystal doves of Vucedol, the symbol of Vukovar, stressing that its image had been designed into the Charter of Gratitude, instead of images of the savagely destroyed Vukovar, displaced persons and victims, Ovcara etc. The dove of Vucedol was the witness of five thousand years of civilisation on this land, Tudjman stressed. "Let the dear guests and the world accept it as a sign of our decisive resolution for peace and cooperation among people and nations," Tudjman said at the ceremony. (hina) lm mm 162056 MET jan 98

VEZANE OBJAVE

An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙