CRO PRESIDENT RECEIVES ASSOCIATION OF WAR VICTIMS DELEGATION - STA

STA $ TEMENT ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Wednesday received a delegation of the Association of War Victims which included the president of the Refugees Union, Mato Simic, the president of the Association "Croatian Mother" - Vinkovci, Katica Ratkovic, the president of the Association of Parents and Families of Imprisoned Soldiers "Vukovar Mothers", Katica Majic, the president of the Association of Families of Missing or Imprisoned Croatian Soldiers, Stefica Krstic, the president of the Association of Parents of Killed Croatian Soldiers, Ljerka Ivusic, the president of the Association of Widows of Croatian Soldiers, Neda Balog, a representative of the Association of War Civil Victims, Zeljko Starjacki, the president of the Centre for Protection of Human Rights of Imprisoned or Missing Croatian Citizens and Members of their Families, Zdenka Farkas, a representative of the Association of Families of Imprisoned or Missing Croatian Soldiers "Croatian Phoenix", Marija Macek, the president of the League of Croatian War Invalids, Marinko Liovic, a representative of the League of Croatian War Invalids, Ivica Perkovic, and a representative of the Association of Croatian War Veterans, Herman Vukusic, a statement from the President's Office said. #L# President Tudjman was informed of the status of war victims and the problems they encountered in achieving their rights. The representatives of the Association of War Victims said that it was necessary to determine priorities for solving problems, and that the acts passed so far were good, but there were problems in their application, especially in the behaviour of bureaucratic structures. President Tudjman said that despite the difficulties during the liberation war, Croatia had seen to the fact that no one stayed hungry or without accommodation. Now we would solve the current problems in keeping with priorities and possibilities, President Tudjman said. We must act in order to remove all administrative obstacles in relation to the realization of legal rights of war victims, for which I will personally authorize certain ministries, Tudjman said. Speaking of Croatia's position in the scheme of foreign affairs, President Tudjman said that Croatia was still subject to pressure on the part of those who had not wanted its independence, that there were continuous attempts to impose some unacceptable conditions, but that we would, in spite of it all, come to all Croatia's state borders this year. President Tudjman said that he would use all his influence to find out as soon as possible the fate of imprisoned and missing Croatian soldiers and civilians. The representatives of the Association of War Victims thanked President Tudjman for all he had done in establishing and protecting the Croatian homeland and offered him their best wishes for Statehood day. Present at the meeting were also the head of the President's Office, Ivo Sanader, the President's advisor for internal affairs, Ivica Pasalic, the Croatian parliament's vice-president, Jadranka Kosor, advisor to the President, Branimir Jaksic, head of the military cabinet, General Miljenko Crnjac, and the President's aide-de-camp, Major General Kresimir Kaspar, the statement from the President's Office concluded. (hina) ha jn 291727 MET may 96