TUDJMAN OPENS NEWLY-BUILT SECTION OF GORICAN-CAKOVEC HIGHWAY

GORICAN, June 4 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Wednesday opened the newly-built section of a highway from the Gorican crossing on the Croatian-Hungarian border to the town of Cakovec, 80 km north of Zagreb. The construction of the 16 km stretch cost 250 million kuna and was carried out by Croatian companies and Croatian Army engineers. The opening ceremony was attended by government and military officials, representatives of Medjimurje County and the Hungarian Zala County, municipal officials from Cakovec, representatives of the Hungarian minority and residents of Cakovec and nearby towns. Tudjman said that the opening of the highway was of great importance because even in war conditions the Croatian government had built roads and other infrastructure to the benefit of the Croatian people. "The Croatian government is rectifying the errors of the previous anti-Croatian policy, by linking Croatia with Europe to the benefit and interest of all its citizens," the President said. The Zagreb-Gorican highway is a part of the main state route no. 3, which is a part of the new European road corridor no. 5. It will provide a closer link between Croatia and Central and Eastern Europe. The highway will link the largest Croatian sea port of Rijeka via Zagreb to the Croatian-Hungarian border and on to Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine. (hina) vm mm 041934 MET jun 97