BELISCE, 25 March (Hina) - The Croatian President Franjo Tudjman laid the foundation stone for the construction of a bridge over the river Drava near Belisce, Osijek County, Tuesday afternoon. President Tudjman marked the beginning
of the construction of the bridge in the presence of residents of Belisce and Valpovo, Croatian government representatives, Osijek County prefect Branimir Glavas and Djakovo Bishop Msgr. Marin Srakic, who consecrated the building site.
NEAR BELISCE
BELISCE, 25 March (Hina) - The Croatian President Franjo Tudjman laid the
foundation stone for the construction of a bridge over the river Drava near
Belisce, Osijek County, Tuesday afternoon.
President Tudjman marked the beginning of the construction of the
bridge in the presence of residents of Belisce and Valpovo, Croatian
government representatives, Osijek County prefect Branimir Glavas and
Djakovo Bishop Msgr. Marin Srakic, who consecrated the building site. #L#
President Tudjman was welcomed by Belisce mayor Zeljko Klanjscek, who
stressed that the bridge would be of great importance for that part of
Croatia as it would link it with the area of Baranja.
The greatest wish of Belisce residents, he said, was to 'cross the
bridge soon, led by the President'.
President Tudjman was also greeted by Osijek County prefect Branimir
Glavas..
The bridge over the river Drava was the second bridge to be built in
the last seven years in Osijek County, Glavas said, adding that the most
important current tasks included economic reconstruction and the creation of
living conditions for displaced people who would return to their homes in
the next several months.
Glavas expressed his acknowledgement to President Tudjman for 'knowing
how to lead his people'.
'We can be very satisfied with today's laying of the foundation stone
for the beginning of the construction of the bridge which is to connect two
parts of Croatia', Tudjman said, adding that 'it is an act which has a more
profound meaning in the struggle for a free and independent Croatia'.
All those who reigned until now did not build and link, and we are
doing it, without anyone's help but our own and that of the Croatian
Diaspora, Tudjman said.
Recalling that 'we did not want war but peace', Tudjman expressed
respect and regret for all the killed, adding that the victims were not in
vain, like the ones from the World War II, because they were built into the
foundations of the Croatian state.
Now that the war is over, after we reach our borders, we will dedicate
ourselves to increasing living standards and solving social problems,
Tudjman said, adding that 'there is no state in the world which does not
have problems'.
All Croatian Serbs in the Croatian Danubian area who did not commit
crimes and who respect Croatia and its laws can live freely and have rights
equal to those of other citizens, Tudjman said.
They wanted to take Baranja away from us, but we will not give it
because it is Croatian and because it had ' majority Croat population which
lived in peace with everybody', Tudjman said.
The Croats are ready to build their state on the principles of true
democracy, but 'as their own masters and in their own homeland', Tudjman
said, calling on the residents of Belisce and Valpovo to choose the best
people in the forthcoming elections.
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