CROATIAN PRESIDENT RECEIVES UEFA DELEGATION - STATEMENT

ZAGREB, March 6 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Wednesday received a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) delegation, led by UEFA President Lennart Johanson, a Presidential Office statement said. The President thanked the guests for UEFA's support in the recognition of the Croatian state, hoping that their visit to Zagreb would help establish stronger relations between the Croatian Football Association (HNS) and UEFA. The President stressed that Croatian athlets had achieved successes in former states and that now, by defending Croatian colours, they would contribute to the reputation of the Croatian state. "We're ready to develop sports because they are an important aspect of life of young people and the people as a whole, and football is important because it brings together a large number of people at stadiums," President Tudjman said. Johansson said he knew about Croatian sport successes and that his delegation was meeting HNS officials on Thursday to see how UEFA could help Croatian football. The meeting was also attended by Presidential Social Affairs Adviser Zlatko Canjuga, Head of the President's Cabinet Gordan Radin, Croatian Olympic Committee President Antun Vrdoljak, HNS President Nadan Vidosevic and his deputy Josip Soic. The UEFA delegation included Secretary General Gerhard Aigner and the General Director of the Eastern European Department, Erich Epple, the statement concluded. (hina) vm 062222 MET mar 96