'PEACE TRAIN' FOR VUKOVAR DEPARTS FROM ZAGREB

ZAGREB, June 8 (Hina) - "Train For Vukovar - Train of Peace", on which Croatian President Franjo Tudjman is symbolically leading the whole of Croatia to its eastern border as well as to the Croatian Danube river area and Vukovar, departed from Zagreb Central Railway Station at 9.30 hours Sunday. The train consisting of 21 carriages from every Croatian County was seen off by a multitude of Zagreb citizens. Besides President Tudjman, the Croatian state leadership, all counties' representatives, the Diplomatic Corps' members accredited in Zagreb, religious dignitaries and other Croatian prominent personalities are aboard the train. Ahead of the departure, Tudjman addressed citizens that had gathered in front of the Railway Station to see off the train. In his speech, he stressed Croatia's commitment to peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube river area, and described the train for Vukovar as a "train of peace, victory, the offering of reconciliation to all who have stayed in Croatia, who recognise Croatia and who want to be its citizens," and added that "we guarantee to them civil and minorities rights and we want them to take part in the construction of Croatia and to build their own lives as all citizens of Croatia do." "By this train and Croatia's coming to its eastern border and to the Danube, we are completing the historical victory of the Croatian freedom, of the creation of the Croatian independent, sovereign and democratic State, which we have introduced into the world community of free and sovereign nations," President Tudjman stressed in his speech. (hina) mš 081003 MET jun 97