"CROATIAN DAYS IN BUDAPEST" BEGINS IN HUNGARIAN CAPITAL

( Editorial: --> 1737 ) BUDAPEST, March 23 (Hina) - An event entitled "Croatian Days in Budapest" opened in the Hungarian capital on Monday. Croatia's central European political orientation and its economy and culture will be presented during the event, which will last several days. Opening the event, Croatian Ambassador to Hungary Zdenko Skrabalo said that both countries had started a future which required joint work based on centuries of tradition and belonging to the same circle of civilisation. Croatia would become a full-member of an influential regional organisation - the Danube Commission - in Budapest, on March 26, Ambassador Skrabalo announced. "Croatian Days in Budapest" will include, among other things, the opening of an exhibition of contemporary Croatian graphics, the presentation of the Hungarian version of President Franjo Tudjman's book "Povijesna sudba naroda" ("The Historic Fate of Nations") and a visit by Zagreb's "Gavella" Theatre. An international conference on mine clearing lasting several days will open in Budapest on Thursday. The conference is aimed at finding funds for accelerating the process of mine removal in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Hina) mm mb /mb 231826 MET mar 98