PRESIDENT TUDJMAN HOSTS CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S RECEPTION

( Editorial: --> 1371 ) ZAGREB, Dec 29 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Monday hosted a Christmas and New Year's reception for representatives of authority, political parties, religious communities, the city of Zagreb, business, culture, art, science, sport, the Croatian Interior Ministry, the Croatian armed forces, the Bosnian Federation and non-government associations. Addressing those present, Tudjman stressed that this year closed a historic period in the path of the establishment and defence of the independent Croatian state and of the establishment of complete sovereignty over the whole of Croatian state territory. Tudjman recalled that in 1990 Croatia had to fight for its right for self-determination, for its establishment, and that from 1991 to 1995 it had to defend its territory from aggression and liberate occupied territory. He pointed out that one-third of Croatia had been occupied at one time. In 1995, with the Croatian military operations "Flash" and "Storm", we proved the social and armed power of the new Croatian state, we proved the determination of the Croatian people to survive and be an indispensable factor in this part of Europe and the world, Tudjman stressed. He added that in 1996 and 1997 the Croatian people had shown wisdom and determination in the establishment of a democratic Croatia, even with the part of the Serb population who had, misled by the Yugo-Communist army and Serbia, risen in rebellion against the independent Croatia. We decided on the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube river region, and we willingly gave up military and police operations, which we could have conducted, but did not because of our peace-loving and democratic convictions, and so that we could prevent suffering of the Croatian people and the Serb people, Tudjman said. The establishment of state sovereignty on the whole territory allows us to concentrate our forces and material sources on the reconstruction of Croatia, Tudjman said. He said the Croatian authority had hitherto, even in war, been exclusively focused on the well-being of its people, on the well- being of every Croatian citizen as an individual. We can now develop Croatia as a country of freedom and prosperity in which the future of every person and his children will depend on himself, Tudjman said. Let us be aware that we have achieved everything through the politics of reconciliation of the dissented, disintegrated Croatian people, Tudjman said, stressing that only now do we have the opportunity and conditions for further spiritual reconciliation of the Croatian people and all citizens of Croatia. Tudjman said all other problems were minor in comparison to those behind us. Even the richest countries, such as Sweden, Germany or the United States, have problems with unemployment, health services, pensioners and so on. Croatian Parliament speaker, Vlatko Pavletic, wished a happy and successful New Year to President Tudjman on behalf of all the people present. All indicators show that in 1997 we have strongly stepped into the peace-time period in which the expectations of Croatian citizens that vital social issues would be priorities have been justified, Pavletic stressed. He pointed out Tudjman's exceptional credit in victories and achievements, stressing that the decisions of President Tudjman had always been "in full compliance with Croatian state and national interests, despite various pressures" and both foreign and internal challenges. Pavletic said Tudjman had been multiply right when he said that this was the moment when we can and must open a discussion about all those important issues of the peace-time day-to-day life which are of vital importance for the widest strata of people. This is an invitation to all who can contribute to the strategically correctly focused development of Croatia, aimed at its prompt access into Euro-Atlantic integrations, Pavletic said. (hina) lm mm 291821 MET dec 97