PRESIDENT TUDJMAN'S INTERVIEW WITH VATICAN RADIO AND TELEVISION (3)

( Editorial: --> 4833 ) ZAGREB, Oct 1 (Hina) - When asked to explain the Holy See's support for the Croatian state and people in the critical moments of recent Croatian history despite the Vatican diplomacy's traditional restraint, Tudjman said that the Holy See was a world institution with the longest historic experience, and was the most wise when it came to international politics. The Vatican understood that the Croatian people in their desire for freedom had done a great deal for western Christian civilisation. "The Croatian people had remained for a large part Catholic more than many other European nations because it had been subjected to imperialistic aspirations and some Protestant European circles, but especially the invading Ottomans," the Croatian President said. "The Vatican understood that all these pressures and attacks on the Croatian people were also directed against Catholicism in general in Europe, and not only in Croatia." Asked to comment on the present situation on the Croatian political scene, which was seen in some media as the opposition achieving links and unity and the governing party was suffering shocks and division, the President said it only looked this way on the first view. "In the meantime, the opposition has been unable to maintain unity within it own parties, and it is so heterogeneous that these linkages occasionally look very strange. "The governing party has continued as a widely populist party with a programme of uniting democratic elements from the Croatian right to the Croatian left. From the very beginning this meant a certain heterogeneousness and weakness. Yet not only weakness but strength, because it was on these bases that the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) received a majority from the Croatian people from the first elections and beyond. "Give that individuals have left the HDZ in the past or will now leave does not mean a weakening of the governing party, because it won and will promote a national programme which is acceptable for the widest circle of the Croatian nation (from the right to the left), and has its own social programme. The social programme resolves all issues for the current Croatian person, of all social strata." The polemics of two, three HDZ officials certainly will not cause any major changes in the very leadership of the HDZ, Tudjman said, adding that the polemics should have been discussed inside party bodies. "Now party and state bodies are looking at the delivered accusations and decisions will be made which will certainly be in the interests of the governing party, and also for Croatia." "I am certain... that we will continue with our policies and resolutely clear weaknesses. This administration is doing this in all instances where the misuse of power emerges, where irrational ruling is shown, etc. I am sure we will successfully resolve all these would-be small crises instigated by individuals. "If we did not succeed in maintaining exactly such a centrist people's party, but I believe we will, the future of Croatia would be in question, given that there are nearly no responsible international institutions which would support Croatian independence and inclusion in western European, Atlantic integration processes. These institutions are engaged in the idea of regionally integrating Croatia in the western Balkans where Albania would be, and not Slovenia, or even in some south-eastern Europe. In fact, the question can be raised why someone wants another Croatia, and not the Croatia which realised everything we had realised and is a guarantee for economic and cultural progress and for freedom and the future of the Croatian state." Speaking about speculated changes in the government, President Tudjman said: "The Government is stable", and added that the alleged changes were being pedalled by those domestic and foreign forecasters whose earlier judgements had not been real. They had been especially interested in the Prime Minister, Defence Ministry, Interior Ministry, etc. "In response to your question and the Croatian public I can say that, in my view, the Government is capable of resolving the issues which are before it and that we can be satisfied with the results, regardless of having problems before us." If a minister left because of this or that reason, it would only be with the aim of improving work, President Tudjman said. "Three agreements which have been signed up to now and a fourth to be established between the Holy See and the Republic of Croatia bear witness to the desire of the Croatian democratic government and the Holy See for mutual relations with the Catholic Church in Croatia... to be regulated in a way which is satisfactory for church needs, and the interests of the Croatian nation and Croatian state. Generally they are on the line of understanding and judgements that the democratic Croatian authorities and Church have mutual interests in today's times in maintaining and fostering those moral and ethical principles which are for the well-being of man as an individual, family and Croatian society," Tudjman said. (Hina - Ends) mbr jn/bs 020312 MET oct 98