CROATIA OFFERS HAND OF RECONCILIATION TO SERBS - TUDJMAN

NUSTAR, June 8 (Hina) - Before the arrival of the 'Peace Train' in Vukovar, near the village of Nustar, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, said that Nustar was among worst war-ravaged places in Croatia. The reconstruction of Nustar was a sign that Vukovar would return to the Croatian rule and that this symbol of Croatia's resistance and freedom would be also reconstructed, he added. "It would be hard for us to forgot the evil, but we must forgive, as those Serbs who rose in rebellion were a means of the Yugo-Communist and Belgrade's imperial policy, being unaware what they were doing. Those who have stayed, realised that it was against their own interests and that they must seek their solution in Croatia," Tudjman said on the train. He added that he was taking the whole of Croatia to Vukovar in order to show this and to offer the hand of reconciliation to them (Serbs). Tudjman added that he was expecting from Serbs to prevent extremists in their own ranks, who had committed various acts of subversion also in recent days. "But, it is important that a great part of the Serb population have realised the necessity to be loyal citizens of the Croatian State," Tudjman stressed. (hina) jn mš 081527 MET jun 97