FOUNDATION STONE LAID FOR ITALIAN SCHOOL IN PULA

( Editorial: --> 9168 ) PULA, 17 Dec (Hina) - The Italian President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro attended the laying of a foundation stone for an Italian secondary school in Pula on Wednesday. Scalfaro called on young Italians to be loyal to Croatia, but also to preserve their national identity. He stressed the importance of tolerance and coexistence in areas where people of different ethnic background coexist. "Be an example of fraternity, coexistence and peace, especially in this country, which suffered so much," Scalfaro said. He laid a wreath at the charnel house of Italian soldiers at the Navy cemetery in Pula. During the evening, Scalfaro met with representatives of the Italian minority in Pula. Parliamentary representative Furio Radin called on Scalfaro to support Croatia's integration into European integration processes. Scalfaro said his meeting with President Tudjman was more than cordial. During the meeting, the Italian President expressed a wish for the development of Italian-Croatian friendship. The two countries shared a thousand-year long history of the region, which called for the development of their friendship and cooperation. "Respect for minority rights is a sacred principle upon which all other relations between our two friendly countries depend," said Scalfaro. Scalfaro's meeting with the Italian minority took place at the end of his two-day visit to Croatia. (hina) mm rm 172104 MET dec 97