PRESIDENT TUDJMAN DELIVERS STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

ZAGREB, Jan 22 (Hina) - Croatia's President Franjo Tudjman, on Wednesday addressed the joint session of both Houses of the Croatian Parliament by a report on the state of the nation in 1996. Stressing that in 1995 the largest part of Croatia's occupied areas was liberated, which secured the existence of the Croatian State and protected its long-term strategic interests, President Tudjman said that with the achievement of this fundamental goal of overall national and State policy, the preconditions were established for 1996 to become the first truly peace-time year. At the very beginning of the session the Croatian Parliament's President, Vlatko Pavletic, welcomed members of the Croatian Government, Bosnia-Herzegovina's Croat representatives led by Bozo Rajic, the Croatian President's chief-of-staff, Hrvoje Sarinic, and officials of judiciary and legislative power who attended the session as well. The Parliament's President also welcomed the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, and dignitaries from other religious communities, including, the Islamic Community, the Jewish Community, Evangelical Church and the Serb Orthodox Church. Pavletic also welcomed other representatives of the state authorities and the members of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Croatia, led by the dean of the Corps, Apostolic Nuncio Giulio Einaudi. After striking up the Croatian national anthem, the Parliament and members observed a one-minute silence in memory of the Croatian defenders and all war victims. Addressing the Parliament President Tudjman said in the beginning that the basic goals of the Croatian State policy in 1996 were the following: ensuring the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian Region; the strengthening of the foreign policy position of sovereign and independent Croatia as a Central European State; continuos building and strengthening of the democratic system based on the rule of law and social justice; and the continuous reorganization of the economy which will guarantee and promote development, employment and gradual improvement of the standard of living of employed persons, retired people and sufferers of the Homeland War alike. President Tudjman described 1996 as very successful. Over the past year the leadership of the State, the Croatian people and all Croatian citizens faced, however, rather different, and even new challenges and tasks, Tudjman said adding that this occurred in changed, peacetime conditions, but they nevertheless were and remain to be affected by heavy legacy of war and very complex international circumstances. "Among them particularly mention should be made of the repeated attempts of external interference in the internal democratic development of sovereign Croatia, as well as of the plans of the international circles concerning the regional integration of Croatia within Balkan or Southeast-European frameworks, which are totally unacceptable to the Croatian people," he said. President Tudjman's address on the state of the nation comprises basic characteristic of 1996, and it consists of chapters dealing with the reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area into the legal and constitution system, foreign policy and the international position of Croatia, the state authorities and democratic order, economy, social activities, national and state security and civil security and safety along with the chapter on important tasks of the state policy in 1997. (hina) mm mš 221120 MET jan 97