FORMER AUSTRIAN VICE-CHANCELLOR MADE HONORARY CITIZEN OF SPLIT

( Editorial: --> 2349 ) SPLIT, Aug 7 (Hina) - Austria's former Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Alois Mock was declared an honorary citizen of Split at a ceremony held in Villa "Dalmatia" in the southern Adriatic city on Friday. Guests attending the event included Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, parliamentary representatives, members of the Split consular corps, Austria's Ambassador Rudolf Bogner and Archbishop of Split and Makarska Ante Juric. The "Honorary Citizen" charter was presented to Mock by Split Mayor Ivan Skaric. Mock is paying a visit to Croatia's second largest city at the invitation of the Split Chamber of Commerce and the Croatian- Austrian Society in Split. This is my first visit to Split and you have already declared me an honorary citizen so now, along with Austria, I have another homeland - Croatia, Mock said expressing gratitude for "the great honour he was welcomed with in Split". The charter is also an acknowledgement for the Austrian people, who supported Croatia in 1992, Mock said, adding that his political stand at the time was solidarity and Austria's consistence in helping all small nations fighting for their freedom. I think that Croatia itself has created pre-conditions for its entry into a united Europe, with its culture, economy and all its reconstruction accomplishments in the past seven years. Be sure that on your road towards a united Europe you will have a loyal friend in Austria, Mock said. Granic said that Mock's political influence was so strong that his support meant a lot for Croatia's efforts to "skip some steps" in the process of its admission to the European Union. Split-Dalmatia County Prefect Branimir Luksic invited Mock to the "Sinjska Alka" tournament and to Split for the Pope's forthcoming visit in October, which Mock accepted. After the ceremony, Mock held a lecture "Crucial Events Preceding Croatia's Recognition" and launched his book "Dossier the Balkans and Croatia", published in Croatian by the Croatian University Press and the Croatian Institute for History. (hina) rml /mbr 071546 MET aug 98