TUDJMAN RECEIVES CREDENTIALS FROM FIRST ISRAELI AMBASSADOR

( Editorial: --> 8668 ) ZAGREB, April 22 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman Wednesday received the first Israeli Ambassador to Croatia and reiterated Croatia's condemnation of the Holocaust of the Jews committed by the World War Two Ustasha regime. Handing his credentials, the Vienna-based Ambassador Nathan Meron recalled the Holocaust of European Jews during WW2 including, he said, the tragic events that took place on Croatian territory. President Tudjman said that "Holocaust crimes against members of the Jewish people did take place within the quisling regime in Croatia", emphasising that Croatia condemns these crimes. "Both during WW2 and today, the Croatian public, including the Croatian Government and myself, has condemned the crimes the Ustasha government committed not only against Jews but democratic Croats and members of other nationalities in the Independent State of Croatia (NDH 1941-1945) as well," said Tudjman. "Also, we shall do everything from our side to prevent such things from happening again". The Croatian President pointed out that besides the quisling NDH regime, there was also an antifascist movement in Croatia during WW2. The Croatian antifascist movement was "stronger and more developed than in any other country of the former Yugoslavia and proportionately in the whole Europe", President Tudjman said, adding Croats Josip Broz Tito and Ivan Ribar were at the head of that movement. Ambassador Meron said remembering the crimes and their victims was important so that they might never take place again. He was satisfied with Croatia's rejection of all forms of negative attitude towards people on account of their origin. "We greatly welcome the positive approach the Croatian people and government have adopted in condemning any form of racism, anti- Semitism and xenophobia," Meron said. The Croatian President said the part Jews had in Croatian culture, science and politics had been very important. Jews are present in the government and all other fields of life in present-day democratic Croatia, Tudjman pointed out. He also recalled the fact that the second oldest European synagogue was in Dubrovnik, a port in southern Croatia. These facts make a good basis for the development of friendly all- round relations between Croatia and Israel, the President said. The Israeli Ambassador pointed out his country gives great importance to relations with Croatia. He assured President Tudjman Israel would do everything to form a strong foundation for close and friendly cooperation between the two peoples and governments. Meron expected the Croatian Foreign Minister's visit to Israel in May would contribute to the strengthening of relations between the two countries. (hina) ha/mb 221656 MET apr 98