TWO CROATIAN WOMEN RECEIVED ALTERNATIVE NOBEL PRIZE

( Editorial: --> 6598 ) ZAGREB, Oct 8 (Hina) - Two Croatian women, Katarina Kruhonja and Vesna Terselic, received the 1998 Alternative Nobel Prize, for "incredible engagement" for peace, justice and truce in the Balkans, reported the foundation for "proper life" on Wednesday. The Alternative Nobel Prize has been awarded since 1980 for special achievements in environmental protection and for the self-help in third world countries. The total value of the alternative prize is SEK1,8 million. Speaking on the behalf of both winners, Katarina Kruhonja said that the Alternative Nobel prize was awarded to them for their persistence and enduring interventions for peace, justice and truce. "We have dedicated ourselves to this goal and have achieved a concrete improvement", Kruhonja said stressing that the prize has also been awarded to foundations they are members of and to similar peace organisations throughout Croatia. Katarina Kruhonja a medical doctor in Osijek is one of the founders and the President of the Centre for Peace, Non-violence and Human Rights. Before it was established in 1993 in Osijek the foundation was functioning as a part of the Croatian Anti-war campaign (established 1991). Vesna Terselic, having dual Croatian-Slovenian citizenship, was former coordinator for the Croatian Anti-war campaign and is now a member of its Board The Centre for Peace, Non-violence and Human Rights organised reunions of families separated by the war, their housing and preparations for their return. The centre has opened its branches in Serb occupied areas and organised a course for 30 peace workers on democracy development, tolerance, justice, forgiveness and peace Their plan is to go to Slavonija (eastern Croatia) and continue promoting Christians virtues, said Kruhonja. (hina) it jn/ab 081314 MET oct 98