TUDJMAN HOLDS NEW YEAR RECEPTION FOR CULTURAL WORKERS

ZAGREB, Jan 11 (hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today held a New Year's reception for theatre and film artists, painters, musicians, writers, men of letters and heads of cultural institutions. On behalf of those present, poet and academic Dragutin Tadijanovic wished Tudjman and guests a happy new year which would bring less evil, destruction and suffering and more peace and progress to Croatian people, and their culture and arts. The author of the map entitled "Castles in the Croatian Zagorje", Ivan Lovrencic, and the map's edition sponsor Boris Stimac presented the map to Tudjman. Addressing those present, Tudjman said that the establishment of an independent and a sovereign Croatia created conditions for the progress of the arts, culture and sciences. He said a crucial decision for Croatia would have to be made in the next few days and the decision would have to be our own and, perhaps, contrary to the will of many international factors. Recalling that Croatian leadership relying on the knowledge based on Croatian history, culture and science, had so far made proper judgments in the establishment of a free, sovereign democratic Croatia, President Tudjman expressed belief that the forthcoming decisions would prompt the resolution of the problem of occupied Croatian areas as the primary national and state goal. And all this should contribute to more favourable conditions for culture, arts and sciences. He said his envoys were now in world capitals to express views that Croatia can not be shackled by disagreements and conflicts of the major world and European states and powers and that it would have to undertake steps to speed up the peaceful process to solve the problem of Croatian occupied areas and the crisis in Bosnia. Historic decisions could create risk and suspense but it was up to the Croatian leadership to make decisions and to do everything in the interest of the Croatian nation and state, he said. Tudjman added that Croatia would continue attempts to achieve its objectives in a peaceful way, but he emphasised that "we must be prepared for other possibilities in order to complete the establishment of a democratic Croatia in its entire territory, and to be a support for Croatian people in Bosnia-Herzegovina". The reception was attended by the Croatian ambassador to the UNESCO, Vesna Girardi-Jurkic, the President's advisers, envoys and others. (hina) mar sd mms 111611 MET jan 95