PRESIDENT TUDJMAN ADDRESSES HDZ CEREMONY IN BENKOVAC

BENKOVAC, March 17 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman on Sunday addressed a ceremony marking the sixth anniversary of the foundation of a Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) branch in Benkovac. Tudjman recalled the HDZ's role in the creation of free and independent Croatia but warned that some international factors were making plans to take Croatia back to Yugoslavia, which would have a different name such as 'Euroslavia', the 'Adriatic Confederation', 'Pan-Balkan Union', 'Alliance of Black Sea and Balkan Countries' or 'Southeast European Union'. He added that those circles would like to see "the President of Croatia and the party which created Croatia removed from power" so they could carry out their plans. Tudjman said that there were people in opposition parties who were not aware of the situation, who were "politically blind" and who were obeying only "foreign centres". He called on "all reasonable people from all opposition parties" to think about what he had said. The ceremony was also addressed by the president of the HDZ Zadar County committee, Bozo Colak, public attorney Petar Sale, members of Parliament Davor Aras and Drago Krpina, and Zadar County prefect Sime Prtenjaca. In their speeches they recalled an assasination attempt against the President at a rally in Benkovac six years ago. (hina) vm 171415 MET mar 96