GARDE'S "TRAVEL DIARY THROUGH B-H" PRESENTED IN ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 3992 ) ZAGREB, May 24 (Hina) - The book "A Travel Diary Through Bosnia- Herzegovina" by well-known French Slavist, Paul Garde, has been presented to the Zagreb public. The book was published by Ceres of Zagreb, in the same number it previously published Garde's well-known book "The Life and Death of Yugoslavia". In "Travel Diary Through Bosnia-Herzegovina" Paul Garde witnesses Bosnia-Herzegovina as a country which still has not stepped out of Hamlet's dilemma, said journalist Mirko Galic when he presented the book. A curious traveller, Garde hoped that by travelling throughout Bosnia-Herzegovina in October 1994 he would find out, if in spite of difficult military conflicts, multiculturalism could still be possible in Bosnia-Herzegovina. His conclusion was that Bosnia- Herzegovina is a special and complex community which has developed a certain identity and that is why, holds Garde, it is possible as a community of many peoples and cultures, said Galic. On a 11-day visit at his own expense in autumn 1994, Paul Garde travelled throughout Herzegovina and central Bosnia and visited Mostar, Sarajevo and Zenica. He met with and talked with numerous individuals. Ivo Zanic said that in the book the author notes every individual encounter. He recalls previous meetings with people who like Friar Ivo Markovic, advocated a united Bosnia even though, writes Garde, during the most intense conflicts between Muslims and Croats, the Muslims massacred 14 members of Friar Ivo's family, including the priest's father. Because of an open and critical approach displayed in the book, Paul Garde again shows himself as a true friend of Croatia, asserted Zanic. Convincing, convinced and determined Paul Garde has "opened" the eyes of many French on the war in Croatia, emphasised Galic. A consistent intellectual, but not in the literal sense of the word, for whom the truth is dearest, Garde, added Galic, becomes a harsh critic of Croatian politics in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The author himself said that the book is written for the French public and together with the facts brings only one conclusion - that the international community with its passive politics has done a great evil to Bosnia-Herzegovina. That is why Garde at the end of the book, said Galic, frankly concludes and writes that "it is not easy being a Frenchman in Bosnia-Herzegovina, because even though the reputation of French culture is untouched, our diplomacy is hated, which in spite of nice reports on tolerance does not stop being lenient towards those who have been digging graves from the start". (hina) jn mrb 241151 MET may 98