PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION ON BLEIBURG & WAY OF THE CROSS

( Editorial: --> 4290 ) ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - An exhibition of documentary photography was staged in Zagreb Friday evening to remember victims of Bleiburg and the Way of the Cross. Entitled "Bleiburg And The Way Of The Cross", the exhibition was launched by the Croatian National Parliament, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and the Croatian Painters' Association. After two-day negotiations on surrendering, on May 15, 1945, British forces returned soldiers of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) and civilians who fled Yugoslavia to the Yugoslav partisans. It is estimated that partisans killed between 55,000 and 300,000 people at the Bleiburg field, Austria, and on the way back (the Way of the Cross). Opening the exhibition, parliament speaker envoy Dubravko Jelcic said Bleiburg and the Way of the Cross still managed to put our conscience and sense of patriotism on trial. Part of the Croatian people saw 1945 as a year of victory, while another part saw it as defeat, but conscience, Jelcic said, included and bound both parts in equal manner. Despite testifying to crime and hatred, the exhibition does not advocate hatred and new crimes, Jelcic emphasised. The exhibition is telling everyone to shake their hands. (hina) ha jn 161657 MET may 98