TUDJMAN PRESENTS HIGHEST STATE MEDAL TO ITALIAN PRESIDENT

( Editorial: --> 9112 ) ZAGREB, 17 Dec (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman presented the Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro with the highest Croatian decoration - the Medal of King Tomislav with a Sash and Great Morning Star in Zagreb on Wednesday. Scalfaro received the highest Croatian decoration for his contribution in strengthening friendship between Italy and Croatia, the establishment of peace in this part of the world, cooperation and understanding between the Croatian and Italian peoples and promotion of modern civilised values. Speaking after the presentation of the medal, President Tudjman stressed President Scalfaro's cooperation with Italian antifascists during World War II. He also stressed the fact that Scalfaro "had recognised the evil that Nazi-fascism had done to Europe and the world, including the Italian and Croatian peoples". One of the deeper foundations of the Croatian-Italian friendship was their belonging to "the same western, Mediterranean and central European cultural sphere". Thanking President Tudjman for the decoration, President Scalfaro said that the medal was a sign of friendship between the Croatian and Italian peoples. Croatia and its people were part of Europe and central Europe for historical and cultural reasons, Scalfaro said. The talks which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday stressed support for new relations between the two countries and for Italy's efforts to be more present in the region. The visit to Croatia showed the importance Italy was attaching to its friendship with Croatia, Scalfaro said. Reporters asked Scalfaro about his opinion about the appeal of the Italian Union, the newspaper publishing house 'Edit' and the Rijeka daily 'Novi List' for President Tudjman to do something concerning the severe penalty they had been fined with, due to a customs tax offence. President Scalfaro said he believed the penalty was imposed because of a failure to observe customs regulations. He said he had discussed the problem with President Tudjman, who would see if something could be done to solve it. President Tudjman said that a distinction should be made between the Italian Union, which was allowed to use customs privileges, and 'Novi List', which could not use those privileges. Asked whether the rights of the Italian minority were being respected in Croatia, Scalfaro answered affirmatively. There were many problems, particularly property-related problems which should be solved, Scalfaro said. He supported the idea of the Italian minority in Croatia being a bridge of friendship between the two countries. Croatia was determined to respect the rights of the Italian minority in line with the highest international standards, and it also expected Italy to respect the rights of the Croatian minority, which it had recognised recently, Tudjman said. President Scalfaro invited President Tudjman to visit Italy, which Tudjman accepted. Italy's Scalfaro held talks with the Croatian Premier Zlatko Matesa on Wednesday. (hina) mm rm 171841 MET dec 97