TUDJMAN OFFERS BEST WISHES FOR HOMELAND GRATITUDE DAY

( Editorial: --> 1650 ) ZAGREB, Aug 4 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Tuesday offered his congratulations on the occasion of Homeland Gratitude Day. "On the occasion of Homeland Gratitude Day - the Day of Croatian Victory - I extend my best wishes to the members of the Croatian Armed Forces, all participants in the Homeland war, all Croats in Croatia and abroad and all Croatian citizens. Three years ago, the Croatian Armed Forces won a magnificent victory which has strengthened the foundations of the Croatian statehood and liberated the central state territory of the Republic of Croatia. Relying on its own judgement and power and the unity and patriotism of the Croat people and despite warnings from the international community that we will cause an all-out war and that we are not capable of liberating the occupied areas - the Croatian state leadership started a determined action aimed at liberating the state territory and in only three days liberated the occupied territories together with the ancient Croatian royal town of Knin. This magnificent military victory has changed strategic relations and enabled the Dayton peace agreements as well as the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube River region and the hero town of Vukovar, which were regained without victims. We celebrate this date - 5 August - the Day of Homeland Gratitude, as the Day of Croatian Victory in the Homeland war in which Croats did not fight against each other for the first time and in which they secured their freedom and independence, President Tudjman said in the message. (hina) rml 041302 MET aug 98