POPE'S VISIT OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE, SAYS PRESIDENT TUDJMAN

ZAGREB, Sept 7 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today said the Pope's visit to Croatia had an historic significance for Croatian people and the Croatian State. Speaking at a press conference today, President Tudjman said the Pope's visit was only possible after the establishment of an independent, sovereign and democratic Croatian state. "The Pope's visit shows appreciation of the Croatian state as created by the will of the Croatian people at an historic moment of the transformation of Europe," President Tudjman said. The President said the Pope's visit coincided with crucial decisions made by the Croatian Government, the EU and the UN on the future of the peace-keeping mission in Croatia and the resolution of the crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina. "The Pope's visit at this time is a sign of his moral suport for Croatia's insistence on the establishment of the constitutional order on all of its territory by peaceful means, with the help of the international community," President Tudjman said. He added that the visit also supported Croatia's right to redress injustices by all legal means, if necessary. (hina) jn as sd 071358 MET sep 94