( 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
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