CROATIN FOREIGN MINISTER & DEPUTY RECEIVE IRISH PARLIAMENTARIAN

( Editorial: --> 4970 ) ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic and his deputy Ivo Sanader on Friday received former Irish Foreign Minister and current deputy chairman of the Irish parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Michael O'Kennedy. According to a statement from the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, O'Kennedy was acquainted with the main strategic directives of Croatia's foreign policy and Croatia's efforts to join NATO, the European Union and the World Trade Organisation. Both parties expressed satisfaction with the friendship between the Croatian and Irish peoples and the constantly improving relations between the two countries. Talks also touched upon the Pope's visit to Croatia this weekend and in that respect the beatification of the late Croatian Cardinal Alojzije Stepinac as the principal event of the Pope's visit. According to the Foreign Ministry statement, the beatification will present Stepinac to the international public for what he was, the example of resistance to totalitarian regimes, the example of defence of religious and democratic freedoms and man's rights, regardless of national or religious belonging. The beatification will simultaneously free the Croatian people from accusations of fascism and corroborate its role in World War Two, the statement said. O'Kennedy, who will attend the event, expressed satisfaction that the beatification was going to take place and that the truth about Stepinac would finally win. The Irish parliamentarian said he especially respected Stepinac in the early post WW2 period when the Catholic Cardinal was the victim of Communist repression. O'Kennedy also paid homage to the Croatian people for its struggle from existential menace to the establishment of its own state, as well as for its faith and hope in success on the path of economic and social progress. (hina) ha 021344 MET oct 98