TUDJMAN HOLDS NEW YEAR RECEPTION FOR RELIGIOUS DIGNITARIES

ZAGREB, Jan 9 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today held a New Year's reception for religious dignitaries. On behalf of those present, Zagreb Archbishop Cardinal Franjo Kuharic wished President Tudjman and Croatian authorities all the best for the new year and every success in work, moral and economic development, for the benefit of all Croatia's citizens. Cardinal Kuharic named peace as the biggest wish of every believer and of all people of good will. He repeated part of the Pope's message on a wish for all expelled and displaced people to be able to return home as soon as possible. He thanked President Tudjman, as the Statesman of Croatia, the Croatian Government and Zagreb aldermen for their efforts in welcoming Pope John Paul II to the Croatian Capital September 10 and 11 last year. Their efforts had led to the Pope's visit being marked by peace and dignity. As he praised Croatian authorities, Cardinal Kuharic presented President Tudjman with a gold medal. On behalf of the Protestant-Evangelic Council and the Baptists Dr. Petar Kuzmic wished President Tudjman all the best and handed him a copy of the Jerusalem Bible edition. On behalf of the Evangelical Church, the Lutheran Federation and the Theological College Dr. Vladimir Deutsch gave President Tudjman a New Year's message. On behalf of the Christian Adventist Church Zdenko Hlisic- Bladt expressed his best wishes. Those present included the head of the Jewish Community, Dr. Ognjen Kraus and the head of the Islamic Community in Slovenia and Croatia, Mufti Sevko Omerbasic. Invitations were sent to representatives of the Serb Orthodox Church in Croatia but they did not attend the reception. President Tudjman thanked the religious dignitaries for their best wishes on behalf of the Croatian authorities. He expressed his New Year's message to them and to their religious communities. Speaking of 1994, he emphasised the importance of the Pope's visit describing it as one of the most significant events in Croatian people's history. Everything said during that visit was and would be state policy of a democratic Croatia. This fact was evident when I delivered a speech to the Croatian Parliament, Tudjman said. Croatia's policy was and would be governed by peace as the aspiration of every man and society, he said, adding that the Holy Father also pointed out that every individual and society had the right to defend their life, freedom and rights. We were doing our utmost to achieve a peace solution in line with the policy that we were following and the policy supported by the Holy Father, as the moral authority of the contemporary world, President Tudjman concluded. (hina) jn mms sd 091939 MET jan 95