ORASJE, Dec 22 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on +Tuesday made an address in Orasje at the opening of a rebuilt bridge +connecting this northern Bosnian town with Zupanja in eastern +Croatia across the Sava River.+ Tudjman
said the bridge could be a link for the spiritual connection +of Croats, Moslems, and Serbs, were they to prove sufficiently +realistic to seek solutions suiting all three peoples.+ The bridge was more than a way of achieving transport and economic +connections and augmenting the well-being, said President +Tudjman. + He called on Croats and Moslems to make efforts towards +coexistence, pointing out there would be no Europe or integration +"unless they create Europe" among themselves, i.e. coexistence in +the interest of lasting peace in the area.+ The Croatian President said the opening of the Zupanja-Orasje +bridge was a major event and represented the con
ORASJE, Dec 22 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on
Tuesday made an address in Orasje at the opening of a rebuilt bridge
connecting this northern Bosnian town with Zupanja in eastern
Croatia across the Sava River.
Tudjman said the bridge could be a link for the spiritual connection
of Croats, Moslems, and Serbs, were they to prove sufficiently
realistic to seek solutions suiting all three peoples.
The bridge was more than a way of achieving transport and economic
connections and augmenting the well-being, said President
Tudjman.
He called on Croats and Moslems to make efforts towards
coexistence, pointing out there would be no Europe or integration
"unless they create Europe" among themselves, i.e. coexistence in
the interest of lasting peace in the area.
The Croatian President said the opening of the Zupanja-Orasje
bridge was a major event and represented the connection of two parts
of the same people. He reminded of the hard days of recent war times
and the conflicts which had afflicted Croatia and all three peoples
in Bosnia.
The Washington and Dayton peace agreements, the special relations
agreement between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation, and the
agreement on the ports of Neum and Ploce between Croatia and Bosnia
had, according to Tudjman, set the groundwork for "lasting
solutions both for coexistence and for the return of displaced
persons to places where they can live in freedom and security."
Tudjman thanked the international community for the support in the
building of the Zupanja-Orasje bridge, but added however "it (the
international community) should not entertain irrational and
nebulous ideas on the creation of some sort of joint Bosnian nation,
because the centuries have denied that."
He in particular recalled the 1878 Berlin Congress and Austrian and
Hungarian historic endeavours to create some sort of "artificial
nation" on Bosnian territory.
Tudjman said the reality was such that Croats, Moslems, and Serbs
live here now, and that solutions ought to be sought which would
enable these three peoples to coexist and avoid conflicts.
He told Bosnian Croats they could feel safer than before the recent
war because, he said, behind them was Croatia, as guarantor that
they cannot be outvoted, and the special relations agreement, which
regulates that all significant issues are to be resolved by
consensus.
Addresses were also made by members of Bosnia's collective
Presidency.
Bosnian Croat leader Ante Jelavic assessed the building of the
Zupanja-Orasje bridge was a proof of the fruitful cooperation
between Bosnia and Croatia. It was a confirmation of the
significance the signed agreement on special relations had, as well
as of the necessity to sign relative annexes as soon as possible, he
said.
Bosnian Serb leader Zivko Radisic said today was a day to remember,
and the bridge the first major joint reconstruction project between
Croatia and Bosnia. It proved that Bosnia and its neighbours had
entered a new stage of development and history, a stage of
prosperity, peace, and cooperation.
Moslem member Alija Izetbegovic's envoy Edhem Bicakcic assessed
the bridge was hugely important for Bosnia as the transport route
connecting it with Croatia and Europe. He wanted the bridge to serve
peace and advancement in the area.
The World Bank's representative in Croatia, Sandor Szyposz, was
satisfied the bank had taken part in building bridges among people.
The World Bank believed in bridges and was there to assist the
building of many more, he added.
A Croatian Roads representative assessed the bridge represented an
important link in the Vukovar-Vinkovci-Zupanja, in Croatia,
Orasje-Tuzla-Sarajevo, in Bosnia, road network. It was an example
of good neighbourly cooperation and Croatia's and Bosnia's
construction possibilities.
After the opening of the bridge, President Tudjman headed a high-
ranking delegation's meeting with a delegation of the Presidents of
Bosnia and the Bosnian Federation. He also met with a local county
delegation and representatives of local Homeland War veterans'
associations.
(hina) ha mm