BARONESS THATCHER RECEIVES ZAGREB UNIVERSITY HONORARY DOCTORATE

( Editorial: --> 0870 ) ZAGREB, Sept 16 (Hina) - The University of Zagreb on Wednesday awarded former British prime minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher an honorary doctorate. Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness of Kesteven, was written into the official book of honorary doctorates awarded by the university, which is soon to start its 330th academic year. Zagreb University Chancellor Prof Dr Branko Jeren presented the "doctor honoris causa" diploma to the former United Kingdom leader, who is now a member of the House of Lords and Chancellor of Buckingham University in England and Mary College in the United States. Present at the ceremony in the Zagreb University assembly hall were representatives from all Croatian universities and numerous public and political figures. Baroness Thatcher received the honour from Croatia's largest university for her extraordinary contribution to social sciences in the fields of legal and political science, especially in international relations, as well as for her state, diplomatic and other public activities which had greatly contributed to overall recognition of Croatian science and culture in contemporary international environment and to the development of cooperation between Croatia and Great Britain. The ceremony promoter, Foreign Minister Mate Granic, said Baroness Thatcher was undoubtedly among the most distinguished world states people and national leaders in the 20th century - a fact confirmed by her numerous contributions to international understanding, peace, cooperation and partnership. For Croatia especially important was her persistent and effective support for the international recognition of the wish and will of the Croatian nation for and its right to an independent and sovereign Croatian state. Croatian citizens, Granic said, especially value the fact that Margaret Thatcher condemned the aggression on Croatia, named the aggressor and consistently advocated the feeling of national consciousness, defending the view that national consciousness was not against democracy. This high moral act was part of the political-diplomatic activities and scientific work of Margaret Thatcher. Baroness Thatcher is a politician who believes that a timely and immediate response is the only appropriate response to every violation of international norms and the global rule of law, Granic said. The political activities of Baroness Thatcher bear witness to those principles, he said. Baroness Thatcher expressed her gratitude for the honorary doctorate and thanked Minister Granic who proposed the nomination. The centuries-old yearning for a free Croatia has now been achieved, she said, congratulating the Croatian nation on the achievement. National self-determination is the most proper basis for building freedom, but it is not the only pre-condition for democracy nor is it sufficient, Baroness Thatcher said. Now that Croatia is finally whole, what it needs is to continue developing the remaining aspects of freedom. Freedom also has a moral dimension and includes the recognition of the uniqueness of a person with all its inalienable rights - the rights of man as a subject and not an object and the state as a servant and not a master. Also, freedom requires limited authority, which does not mean weak authority, but authority limited in size and power. Freedom also has an economic aspect, which is equally important as its political aspect and means the basic right to ownership. The rule of law is a firm base on which the mentioned freedoms are founded. An important quality of the rule of law is that no one - no matter how powerful or privileged - is above it. Croatia is lucky that during the time of Communism it did not experience a total development of the collective system, such as that in the USSR. The Catholic Church in Croatia prevented the destruction of the moral fibre of society, persevering in Christian ethics and protecting the young from atheistic materialism. The Church maintained the nation's strength and helped the young generation in 1991 to be prepared for sacrifice in building the new state. Cultural complementing is the task of universities, and it is a noble responsibility because the young people of Croatia deserve the best. I am thankful and honoured for being tied to this historic mission which has been the task of the respected Zagreb University for more than three centuries, said the new honorary doctor of the University of Zagreb. This afternoon Baroness Thatcher visited central Zagreb, accompanied by Zagreb Mayor Marina Matulovic Dropulic. (Hina) mbr jn /rml 162228 MET sep 98