NERETVA IS TO US AS RIVER JORDAN - FRANCISCANS WRITE TO TUDJMAN

MOSTAR, Feb 17 (Hina) - The Herzegovina province of the Franciscan Order today wrote to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to express gratitude and admiration for all he has done for the Croatian people and homeland in the past six years. #L# Noting that Mostar was abuzz with doubt and speculation following recent "subjective arbitrations," the Franciscans stressed their staunch support to Western Mostar Mayor Mijo Brajkovic. "Neretva is to us as the Jordan River to the Israelites," is how the letter depicted the feeling of sacredness Neretva inspires to the Herzegovina Croats, recalling how its waters carried Croatian and Franciscan victims throughout history. An example of this are the seven Franciscans killed in 1945. Since "so much young Croatian blood was spilled in Mostar," it would be "an unforgivable historical sin to let it become a central zone," the letter warned. "We believe the you will ever be guided by all-Croatian interests," said the letter, signed by Provincial Tomislav Pervan. (hina) as 171649 MET feb 96