SYMPOSIUM ON DUBROVNIK REPUBLIC DIPLOMACY TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK

ZAGREB, Aug 31 (Hina) - Between 3 and 5 September the south Croatian port of Dubrovnik will host an international symposium on the diplomacy of the Dubrovnik Republic, organized by the Croatian Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Academy and the University of Zagreb. The symposium aims to show the home and world media the rich diplomatic legacy of the Dubrovnik Republic, as a source of Croatia's diplomatic tradition and the continuation of Croatia's statehood from the Middle Ages, the manager of the Foreign Ministry's Diplomatic Academy, Svjetlan Berkovic, told reporters. The symposium will gather 35 renowned diplomats and scientists from eight countries. It is interesting to note, said Berkovic, that to date foreigners have written more about Dubrovnik and its diplomacy than Croats themselves. The first written note on the diplomacy of the Dubrovnik Republic can be found in the Dubrovnik Statute from 1272, he added. The established belief is that permanent diplomacy, which replaced the former one based on special diplomatic delegations, had its roots in Venice and other Italian towns in the 15th century. Dubrovnik was not lagging behind Venice, Berkovic said, and in some aspects was even ahead. As especially interesting, he cited that Dubrovnik had permanent diplomatic missions before England. There were 50 of them in the 18th century, when Austria had only 37. The forthcoming symposium is held under the patronage of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. His envoy will be Foreign Minister Mate Granic. (hina) ha jn 311535 MET aug 97