VLADKO MACEK COMMEMORATED IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, 14 May (Hina) - Today, the Croatian Peasants' Party (the HSS) commemorated in Zagreb its former president Dr. Vladko Macek, whose remains were brought from the USA to Croatia this month, 32 years after his death. The commemoration, which took place in front of a capacity audience at the old Zagreb city hall, was attended by Dr. Macek's widow Josipa and their son Andrej, as well as by reprsentatives of the Croatian parliament, the diplomatic corps and many Croatian political parties. The host of the ceremony was president of the Croatian Academy of Arts and Science, Dr. Ivan Supek, who spoke on Dr. Macek's life and legacy. The floor was also taken by Dr. Hrvoje Kacic, Jozo Ivicevic and Dr. Tihomil Radja. In 1918, after World War I, Stjepan Radic (the founder and the first president of the Croatian Peasants' Party) demanded and proclaimed a Croatian republic, stressed all the speakers. After Radic's assasination in Belgrade, Dr. Macek checked Serbian expansionist aspirations vis a vis Croatia and forced Belgrade to recognize Croatia as a political factor. The speakers added that recognition of CRoatia paved the ground for the establishment of Banovina Hrvatska as a nucleus of an independent Croatia. During World War II, leaders of the Croatian Peasants' Party negotiated with the Ustasha leadership and tried to use the Vokic-Lorkovic coup in an attempt to found a democratic Croatia and link it with the Allied forces, underscored the commemoration. Its vision of the post WW II Croatian state the HSS leadership advocated in its negotiations with the Croatian communists too. Top on the HSS agenda has always been a democratic Croatian state, said the speakers. Speaking about the traditional HSS platform, they said it has not lost any of its credibility, because it can still meet the standards of all those who are looking forward to a democratic Croatia that belongs to Europe by its civic standards and not only by its geographical position. (Hina) mr 142330 MET may 96