PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES CROATIAN AMERICAN CONGRESS REP

ZAGREB, March 5 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today received the President of the Croatian American Congress, Lidija Dorkin-Grahovac, who doubles as the Vice-President of the Croatian- American Association, and the Director of the Croatian Emigrants' Union, Ante Beljo, the President's office said in a statement, which we quote in full: "Also present were the President's diaspora advisor, Zdravka Busic, and the head of the President's cabinet, Gordan Radin. Grahovac spoke about the work of the Croatian American Congress and the Croatian Americans' support to Croatian state policy. President Tudjman expressed support to the Croatian American Congress and the Croatian-American Association in their lobbying for Croatia. Beljo spoke about the planned construction of a Croatian Diaspora Centre near the Lisinski concert hall in Zagreb. The estimated cost of the project is 36 million kunas. Tudjman welcomed the unity of the diaspora and its support to Croatian state policy. Such support was recently expressed at a White House meeting involving the representatives of the National Federation of Croatian Americans and the Croatian Fraternal Union, and President Clinton's advisers, Anthony Lake (national security) and Alexander Bershbow (European issues). President Tudjman stressed the need for promoting the diaspora's unity within the Croatian Congress," the statement concluded. (hina) as 051329 MET mar 95