THREE-DAY SYMPOSIUM ON CROATIAN DIASPORA OPENS IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, June 13 (Hina) - A three-day symposium called "Croatia 2000 - Croatian Diaspora (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow)" began in Zagreb on Friday. The aim of the symposium is to discuss the possibilities of further participation of Croatian expatriates in developing the modern Croatia of the 21st century, said the director of the Croatian Centre for Strategic Research, Marin Sopta. Sopta said that that was necessary because expatriate Croats had taken an active part in the creation and building of the stable and democratic Croatian state. The gathering, taking place under the high patronage of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, has been organised by the Croatian Centre for Strategic Research, the Ministry of Return and Immigration, and the Croatian Emigrants' Association. The President's special envoy, Branko Jeren, said that the arrangement of the symposium showed that the Croatian nation was thinking positively about its future. He stressed that Tudjman's project of creating an independent Croatian state was based on the unity of Croats in Croatia and abroad. "For Croats, all roads lead to Croatia," said Return and Immigration Minister Marijan Petrovic, adding that President Tudjman's victories remained a guarantee for the return of all Croatian emigrants to their homeland. Emigrants' Association director Ante Beljo said that Croatian expatriates were now faced with the task of lobbying for Croatia throughout the world. The director of the Institute for Applied Social Research, Ivan Rogic, said that the symposium was based on a simple fact that the Croatian diaspora was a still insufficiently used factor of Croatia's development. The opening ceremony was also attended by prominent political figures. (hina) vm 131353 MET jun 97