BOOK "THE IDEA OF CROATIAN FREEDOM" PRESENTED IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, June 4 (Hina) - "The Idea of Croatian Freedom", a collection of texts from the works of President Franjo Tudjman, was presented in Zagreb on Wednesday. The 550-page book, published by "Narodne Novine", contains 500 excerpts selected by Ivan Bekavac and 250 photographs selected by Obrad Kosovac. Presenting the book, Bekavac said that its title reflected the constant in Tudjman's works which could be easily noticed from his first book published in 1957 to the present day. Bekavac said that most of the texts contained in the book had been written under communist rule, "in an atmosphere of fear, threats, violence and persecution." Speaking of Tudjman as a historian, Mirko Valentic said that the most important constant in his works was "his preoccupation with the fate of the Croats." He said that Tudjman was a thorough researcher who respected the hard work and achievements of previous researchers but who also verified their findings. Nedjeljko Mihanovic drew attention to Tudjman's most important philosophical and historical views, from his resistance to Greater- Serbian expansionism to the creation of the sovereign Croatian state. Academic Dubravko Jelcic said that the book outlined Tudjman's scientific and political profile, adding that at every moment the politician Tudjman knew very well what he wanted. (hina) vm mm 041822 MET jun 97