CROATIAN NATIONAL DAY MARKED AT LISBON WORLD EXHIBITION

( Editorial: --> 9502 ) LISBON, June 7 (Hina) - The marking of Croatia's national day at the Expo 98 world exhibition in Lisbon officially began Sunday with the intonation of national anthems and the hoisting of flags of Croatia, Portugal and the Expo, in the presence of Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman and Expo 98 commissioner general Jose Torres Campos. President Tudjman and his wife are heading a high Croatian delegation visiting Portugal between June 6 and 8 on the occasion of Croatia's national day, June 7. This is the first time that Croatia is attending a world exhibition as an independent country. After the official opening of Croatia's national day, Tudjman and Campos visited the Portuguese pavilion. Writing in the book of impressions, the Croatian President emphasised Croatia, as a country with a long-standing maritime tradition, was satisfied with its first participation in a world exhibition in Lisbon. He congratulated the Portuguese people on the organisation of Expo 98. The Croatian delegation was addressed by the exhibition's commissioner general Campos, who pointed out to the atmosphere of peace and beauty which could be experienced in, he said, the beautiful Croatian pavilion. With a 14-century-long maritime tradition, Croatia is indisputably a country with something to say about man's relation to the sea, which the topic of Expo 98, Campos asserted. Tudjman and Campos also exchanged gifts, a replica of Croatia's traditional boat, the gajeta Falkusa, and a sigmoid silver fish. Later in the day, the Croatian President will visit Croatia's exhibits. This year's Expo gathers 146 countries and 14 international organisations. It is dedicated to the discovery Portuguese seaman Vasco Da Gama made 500 years ago, when he found a sea-route to India. Entitled "Oceans, A Heritage for the Future", Expo 98 offers numerous national and four special pavilions which define the past, present and future of man's relation with the sea and the ocean. The Croatian pavilion is entitled "The Croatian Adriatic - A Sea Preserved for the Future, Croatia - A Nature Reserve in the Heart of Europe" presents Croatia's tourism, maritime affairs, ecology and way of life on the Mediterranean. (hina) ha 071335 MET jun 98