PRESIDENT AWARDS BARONESS THATCHER HIGH CROATIAN DECORATION

( Editorial: --> 0695 ) ZAGREB, Sept 15 (Hina) - Former British prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher on Tuesday received one of Croatia's highest state decorations, the Grand Order of King Dmitar Zvonimir. Croatian President Franjo Tudjman awarded Baroness Thatcher the decoration during her visit to the Presidential Court in Zagreb. The former Conservative Party leader is one of the most important British and world leaders of the second half of the 20th century, and is currently a prominent member of the British parliament's upper chamber, the House of Lords. President Tudjman awarded Baroness Thatcher the decoration for her "outstanding contribution to promoting friendly relations between Great Britain and Croatia and her expression of support for the establishment of a free and independent, democratic and sovereign Croatian state". "The Republic of Croatia and the Croatian people with gratitude remember your resolute statements, with which you from the beginning of the Yugo-Communist aggression on Croatia clearly and unambiguously differentiated the attacker from the victim, the oppressor from the oppressed," President Tudjman said in his speech at the presentation ceremony. Recalling how Baroness Thatcher had "consistently become partial to defending the truth about the aggression on Croatia", President Tudjman said that with her international prestige, the former British prime minister had "significantly contributed to the establishment of the independence and international recognition of the Republic of Croatia". The firm stance of Margaret Thatcher was "of special significance when Croatia's just struggle did not find understanding among international factors", he said. In the end President Tudjman thanked Baroness Thatcher for "everything that she had contributed to the establishment of a free and democratic Croatia as an inseparable part of Europe". Expressing gratitude for the award and the words of the Croatian President, Baroness Thatcher said the very title of the decoration was simultaneously a reminder of Croatia's historic statehood, as a medieval kingdom, and the troubles small nations faced in fighting for their independence from powerful neighbours. Under your determined leadership Mr President... the Croatian people finally achieved their national independence. I salute both your and their magnificent achievement, Baroness Thatcher said, among other things. Speaking about the scars of a horrific war which the Croatian nation endured fighting for its independence, Baroness Thatcher emphasised the significance of Vukovar. "Vukovar is at once a symbol of the appalling brutality by a ruthless aggressor, a symbol of the unbelievable courage shown by its few defenders and a symbol of the world's weakness in letting this tragedy happen," she said. Vukovar is the scene of a great crime which must be turned into a beacon of permanent hope. The rebuilding of Vukovar is not only the eternal duty of Croatia but to all friends of freedom everywhere, Baroness Thatcher said. The former British prime minister expressed satisfaction with her stay in Croatia, during which she will also visit Vukovar and Ilok in eastern Croatia and the southern city of Dubrovnik. She is also to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Zagreb and the title of honorary citizen of the Croatian capital. (Hina) mbr jn 160014 MET sep 98