PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES HOLY SEE FOREIGN RELATIONS SECRETARY

( Editorial: --> 9786 ) ZAGREB, June 8 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday received the Foreign Relations Secretary of the Holy See, Msgr. Jean Louis Tauran. Tauran relayed greetings to Tudjman from Pope John Paul II and said the Pope anxiously awaited his visit to Croatia in October. Croatia has achieved great progress since the international recognition of its independence. It had established good relations with the Church, Tauran said. He stressed that Croatia could count on the Vatican's support, which is to be proved by the Pope's upcoming visit. Tudjman expressed gratitude to the Pope for everything he had done for Croatia which has a true friend in Pope John Paul II. Tauran and Tudjman stressed the importance of a more rational approach of the international community towards Croatia, especially regarding requests for the return of Serbs who had left Croatia, and the solving of problems in Bosnia-Herzegovina. (hina) lml 082115 MET jun 98