PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES WIDOWS OF FALLEN DEFENDERS

ZAGREB, May 5 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Thursday received a delegation of the Association of Widows of Croatian Defenders, headed by chairperson Neda Balog, said the president's office in a statement. The widows complained that the society did not take sufficient care of fallen defenders' families. Noting that over a third of fallen defenders' families struggled with acute housing problems, the widows demanded that the authorities in charge take immediate action to resolve them. They also called for a government session to be specially devoted to the issue. President Tudjman supported most of the widows' demands, noting that the authorities in charge should do their utmost to resolve their problems without unnecessary bureaucracy. He reiterated that society should care and provide for all the victims of war and particularly the families of fallen defenders. He welcomed the widows' initiative to take active part in the work of the bodies appointed to deal with their problems. 052139 MET may 94