HOMELAND WAR VOLUNTEERS SEND OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT TUDJMAN

VUKOVAR/ILOK, Oct 25 (Hina) - Members of the Croatian Homeland War Volunteers Association (UHBDDR) on Saturday visited and lit candles at the graves of their fellow soldiers and civilians killed during the Serbian aggression on Vukovar in 1991. The volunteers then visited the church of St Ivan Kapistran in Ilok, where they attended a mass. On behalf of all UHBDDR members, the association's president Branko Borkovic sent an open letter to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. Borkovic informed President Tudjman that Croatian soldiers - Homeland war volunteers, yesterday held its fifth convention in Vukovar, at which they "secured respect for the Croatian flag in accordance with the Croatian Constitution". "As our President and Supreme Commander, you can fully trust your soldiers-volunteers. We will guard and reconstruct Vukovar and Croatia. We are ready to fight for Croatia in war and build it in peace", Borkovic said in the letter. Yesterday's UHBDDR convention, which was to take place at the Community Hall in Borovo Naselje, was several hours late because the volunteers requested that the Serb national minority flag - displayed on the Community Hall building couple of meters above the Croatian state flag - be put at the same level with the Croatian flag. The volunteers removed the Serbian flag in the presence of police, after which the convention began. However, part of them left the meeting because of the incident with the flag, which was in the meantime returned and put alongside the Croatian flag. (hina) rml