CROATIAN PRESIDENT GIVES NEW YEAR RECEPTION FOR SCIENTISTS

ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today gave a New Year's reception for scientists. Among guests were Croatian academicians, university professors, researchers, life-achievement award winners, members of the National Scientific Council and the National Council for Higher Education as well as Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic, Science Minister Branko Jeren and Health Minister Andrija Hebrang. Speaking of science and culture in Croatia, President Tudjman said they would have had no prospects if Croatia had not been defended. "That's why we have to be aware that in these areas of not such vital importance for the defence of the country, we'll have to be sparing for a year or so," he said. Speaking of Croatia's decision to end the UNPROFOR mandate on its territory and of initial reactions to it, Tudjman said: "The world community and the most responsible international factors used all diplomatic means to dissuade us from undertaking such a step. But we did it, guided by our own judgement. We think that our friends and others will accept our decision and will support us in search of a peaceful settlement, and would show understanding if we had to take some other measures." "We have taken this step to speed up the peaceful resolution of the crisis and not to go to war," he stressed. "We cannot be absolutely certain how things will develop, but I'm confident there will be no new war between Croatia and Serbia and 'their' Yugoslavia; I believe the process of the peaceful reintegration of occupied areas will continue," Tudjman said. Croatia had made no mistakes in the process of gaining independence and I think the decision to end the UN mandate was not a mistake either, he continued. "With the hope of liberating occupied areas and restoring Croatian sovereignty in the entire country, speeding up the resolution of the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina (...) and normalizing relations among newly-emerged states in the area of former Yugoslavia (...), I wish you a happy New Year," Tudjman said. In his address, Zagreb University Principal Marijan Sunjic wished the President a happy and successful New Year on behalf of the academic community and all the guests. Sunjic thanked the President for his support to the University and science. Sunjic also conveyed New Year wishes from Prof. Marko Turina, who, on behalf of hundreds of Croatian experts from round the world, "placed himself at the disposal of the homeland for future cooperation." (hina) vm jn 141823 MET jan 95