TUDJMAN ADDRESSES YOUTH OF HDZ

( Vidi vijest: 5894 ) ZAGREB, Oct 25 (Hina) - The Youth of the Croatian Democratic Union Party (HDZ), Croatia's ruling party, on Sunday marked the seventh anniversary of its establishment. Croatian and HDZ president Franjo Tudjman told the Youth it "must lead the way in overcoming all negative historical layers, from former, including the communist, periods". President Tudjman commented on the historical circumstances of the creation of independent Croatia which incorporates the foundations for the future of younger generations and the entire Croatian people. We are subject to attempts aimed at disintegration, in the name of old and new, domestic and world ideas and different plans among which regional ones are especially topical, Tudjman told the Youth of the HDZ. Croatia has proved it can comply with its international commitments, as well as protect its national interests, he added. We have not permitted and will not permit the thwarting of interests of the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina, President Tudjman said, adding this referred not only to the survival of Croathood in Bosnia, but also to Croatia's strategic interests. He announced Croatia would soon issue a draft agreement on special relations between Croatia and the Bosnian Federation, based on the Washington and Dayton peace agreements, which highest ranking U.S. representatives lately advised. Within that agreement, Tudjman said, we will agree on the use of the port of Ploce for the Bosnian Federation's necessities, and for a passage through Neum. In memory of today's conference of the Youth of the HDZ, the HDZ Youth's national chairman Mario Kapulica gave President Tudjman a bronze statue of Croatian King Tomislav. (hina) ha mm 261627 MET oct 97