$ DJMAN BRIJUNI, July 6 (Hina) - The contribution of the Croatian diaspora to the creation and defense of the Croatian state is enormous, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman said on Saturday in his address to the 3rd Convention of the
Croatian World Congress which began on the north Adriatic island of Brijuni on Friday.
TU
$ DJMAN
BRIJUNI, July 6 (Hina) - The contribution of the Croatian diaspora
to the creation and defense of the Croatian state is enormous,
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman said on Saturday in his address
to the 3rd Convention of the Croatian World Congress which began on
the north Adriatic island of Brijuni on Friday. #L#
"The idea of an independent country has always been present
with our diaspora.
The Croatian diaspora union has spoken, so we can be proud
that today, despite the fact that the whole world wanted to prevent
the creation of the new state with their diplomacy, we have our
country," Tudjman said, adding that Croats had proved that they
were a people who had not survived all the hardships through their
history by mere chance.
Tudjman recalled the most important events during the creation
of the Croatian state and said that Croatia had become a regional
force and factor which the world had to recognize.
"We have created Croatia, we will know how to protect it from
all hardships," Tudjman said, adding that the rest of the occupied
area would soon be reintegrated into the Croatian legal and
constitutional system in a peaceful way.
"This is why the Croatian diaspora has to be the true
representative of its country and has to be oriented towards the
interests of the Croatian people," Tudjman said concluding his
speech.
Present at the Convention were also Croatian Defense Minister
Gojko Susak and Emigration Minister Marijan Petrovic.
(hina) lm jn
061418 MET jul 96