CONGRATULATIONS TO CROATIAN PRESIDENT ON STATEHOOD DAY

ZAGREB, May 29 (Hina) - Pope John Paul II today forwarded a letter to Croatian President Franjo Tudjman conveying his best wishes for Statehood Day. "I pray to the Almighty to give strengh to all citizens of Croatia to cherish peace through reconciliation, tolerance and solidarity in cooperaton with all forces advocating peace in the region," the Pope wrote. President Tudjman also received letters of congratulations from King Harald of Norway, President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine, President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro of Italy, President Jiang Zemin of China, President Suleyman Demirel of Turkey and President Alija Izetbegovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. In his message, Izetbegovic said in part: "The Republic of Croatia under your leadership is successfully overcoming difficulties caused by aggression. On this path I wish you and your people new successes. "The results so far achieved in the establishment of institutions of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina show a connection between the interests and fate of the Croatian and Bosniac people." (hina) jn vm 292137 MET may 95