MINISTER GRANIC DELIVERS PRESIDENT TUDJMAN'S GIFT TO GENSCHER

BONN, March 20 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Granic, being on a two-day working visit to Germany, on Thursday delivered Croatian President Franjo Tudjman's present to a former German Foreign Minister, Dietrich Genscher, on the occasion for his 70th birthday. The personal present of President Tudjman is a painting by a well- known Croatian artist, Ivan Lackovic Croata. Granic and Genscher talked about the situation in Croatia and Croatia's strategic goals to be included into EuroAtlantic political, economic and security structures. Genscher expressed confidence that Croatia, being a central European country, would continue to enter European integration processes, but he added that the southeast of Europe would remain a trouble spot for a long time. Minister Granic told Croatian reporters after the meeting that Genscher would visit Croatia in May, at an invitation by President Tudjman. The former German Foreign Minister Genscher, who has been one of politicians who contributed much to Croatia's recognition in the world, will celebrate his 70th birthday on Friday. Tomorrow, German Chancellor Helmut Kohl will hold a reception in honour Genscher's birthday, at which Croatian Foreign Minister will be present as well. On Thursday afternoon, Granic attended a celebration of planting a linden tree in front of the town library in the Bonn district of Bad Godesberg. Croatian Ambassador in Bonn, Zoran Jasic, planted the tree, in a symbolic act, in order to express gratitude to Germany for its support to the international recognition of Croatia and for its help to his country. A memorial plaque with the writing both in German and Croatian was set in front of the tree. During this event, which public figures of Bad Godesberg attended, the Croatian Embassy handed over to the library three copies of the German edition of President Tudjman's book 'Povijesna sudba naroda' (Das Historische Schicksal des Volkes) presented today and ten copies of a book about Croatia recently issued by the Embassy. (hina) jn mš 202157 MET mar 97