PRESIDENT TUDJMAN VISITS KRASIC AND JASTREBARSKO

( Editorial: --> 3347 ) KRASIC/JASTREBARSKO, Sept 26 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Saturday visited Krasic and Jastrebarsko, about 30km south-east of Zagreb. Krasic is the birthplace of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac, who is to be beatified during Pope John Paul II's visit to Croatia between October 2-4. Accompanied by Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, President Tudjman laid a wreath at the monument erected in memory of Cardinal Stepinac and visited the Church of the Holy Trinity and the parish office where Cardinal Stepinac worked and lived. "Cardinal Stepinac was a holy man and one of the greatest and wisest Croats during World War II. The sentence "I would be nothing without my people who clearly expressed their wish for freedom and their own state" will remain an authentic testimony of one of the greatest dignitaries of the church among Croats. His beatification is a contribution to the recognition and promotion of the Croatian church, people and state", Tudjman wrote in the book of impressions. The President and his associates then visited Jastrebarsko they held a meeting with local officials and Zagreb county representatives. Speaking about relations of the international community towards Croatia at the time of the Serb aggression, Tudjman said that everybody wanted to sustain the former Yugoslavia. Even today, the world still wants a different Croatia, as part of some central eastern associations. Croatia does not belong in these associations, because it is an integral part of the Mediterranean and central Europe, Tudjman said. There is still a small number of those who have not made peace with Croatia's independence, for various reasons. There are still those who do not believe in their own abilities, and therefore, rely on foreign tutors, he stressed. Speaking about the end on the 80's, when he initiated the reconciliation programme, Tudjman said he was not into forming a party which would rule, but was rather into creating the state of Croatia. If there was no Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) as the central Croatian party, who knows what might have become of us, Tudjman said. He added that he had always, and still does, call on similar parties - the Croatian People's Party (HSS) and Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) - for cooperation, to the interest of Croatia, which is the main task. Since the very beginning, some had tried to cause a split within the HDZ. There have been fractions and attempts of cleavage, and those who tried to do that ended up on the margins of political life, Tudjman said. Even what is happening today has elements of cleavage, but be assured that we will soon solve this, he added. Even some foreign leaders had called for splits within the HDZ, but their pressures contributed to homogenisation, as is the case with the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina. "We must be aware that an even greater unity can contribute to maintaining what has been created. I am certain that the pressures will contribute to homogenisation, notwithstanding whether one, two or three fall out," Tudjman stressed. He added that no straying will be allowed. Tudjman recalled the recent visit of the former British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, to Croatia, when she said that only an organised authority that develops democracy can ensure a future. Despite various predictions of catastrophe, we can be proud of what we have achieved, Tudjman said. He added that a further development of the economy, private entrepreneurship, crime fighting and favourable loans for entrepreneurs and farmers, should be stimulated. We have friends, and the arrival of Pope John Paul II to Croatia is proof of that. The fact that Vatican expedited the beatification process for Cardinal Stepinac was proof that serious people in the world realised that the attack on the Croatian people, when it comes to the NDH, is unjust. The Independent State of Croatia (NDH, 1941-1945) was not just the creation of Ustashas, but was an expression of the aspirations of the Croatian people to be free from the Yugoslav prison. We are not lonely, we have friends, and nobody can beat a people that are united, Tudjman stressed. Those who are setting requests about the media, the rights and basics of our life should be told that the Croatian people have managed to maintain their national identity throughout the centuries. We were an integral part of Europe and we stood in its defence during the time of wars within it, he said. Let us be aware of our contribution to Europe and of what we have achieved, Tudjman said. He added that the Croatian people have a reason to be proud. (hina) rm lml 261658 MET sep 98