CROATIAN HIGH SCHOOL TEXTBOOK ACCUSES SOROS

( Editorial: --> 6833 ) ZAGREB, 8 Oct (Hina)- Officials of Open Society Croatia told the press on Thursday they would press libel charges against the author of a textbook for the second grade of Croatian high schools for alleged offences to the Society and its financier George Soros. The third edition of Ivan Vujicic's textbook "History (Croatia and the World 2)" claims that Soros spends millions of U.S. dollars to stir dissatisfaction in Croatia and make sure that the present Government loses the next election. George Soros, an American billionaire and stock exchange speculator, claims that he established his foundation to facilitate democratic processes in former Communist countries. However, authorities in some transition countries have expressed doubts about the good intentions of his idea of open society and accused him of interfering with their countries' internal affairs. Last year the Institute Open Society Croatia spent US$6.8 million on a number of projects in culture, arts, education, science, health, the media and publishing. The largest single donation, i.e. US$2 million, went into education. (hina) mr/ha 081842 MET oct 98