JEWS IN CROATIA GRATEFUL TO STEPINAC - JEWISH COORDINATION

( Editorial: --> 4419 ) ZAGREB, Sept 30 (Hina) - The Coordination of Jewish Municipalities in Croatia on Wednesday issued a statement on Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac's stance concerning the Jews during World War Two Croatia. The statement comes on the occasion of Stepinac's beatification by Pope John Paul II this weekend. Following is an unofficial translation of the statement. "The Jews in Croatia are grateful to Cardinal Stepinac for advocating during the Ustasha Independent State of Croatia (NDH, 1941-1945) the salvation of many Jews, and for succeeding in saving from Ustasha and Nazi genocide the residents of the 'Lavoslav Schwartz' retirement home, several groups of Jewish children and several hundred of converted Jews in mixed marriages. "The beatification of Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac is an autonomous decision of the Catholic Church, and the Coordination of Jewish Municipalities in Croatia will not object to it." The Jews also thank Stepinac for his advocacy of the salvation of those belonging to other religions, nationalities and peoples. "We believe history will be the one to judge Cardinal Stepinac's overall stance towards the Ustasha NDH", said the statement, signed by Coordination president Ognjen Kraus. The Coordination of Jewish Municipalities in Croatia includes nine Croatian towns - Cakovec, Daruvar, Dubrovnik, Osijek, Rijeka, Slavonski Brod, Split, Virovitica, and Zagreb. (hina) ha jn/sp 301934 MET sep 98