PRESIDENT TUDJMAN RECEIVES REPRESENTATIVES OF NAPREDAK SOCIETY

ZAGREB, Feb 4 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman today received a delegation from the Croatian Cultural Society "Napredak", the President's office said in a statement. The Society's Chairman, Franjo Topic, and his associates thanked President Tudjman for his unfailing support to "Napredak" and acquainted him with its recent activities, which embraced music, visual arts, publishing, trade and public health, the statement said. Since 1990, the Society has strengthened its presence in Bosnia-Herzegovina and opened 21 subsidiaries in various Bosnian towns, Topic said, adding that the membership had swelled to 20 thousand. The talks focused on the survival of the Croatian ethnic body in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the offices held by Society members in various Government bodies and institutions. President Tudjman confirmed his support to the Society, dwelling on Croatia's efforts to protect the interests of Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Association's delegation included steering committee members Dalibor Brozovic, Darko Lukic and Ivica Saric. Also present were the President's advisor on confederal issues, Bosiljko Misetic, home policy advisor, Ivic Pasalic, advisor on humanitarian issues, Slobodan Lang, advisor on economic issues, Duro Njavro, advisor on culture, Zeljka Corak and advisor on diaspora issues, Zdravka Busic. "We told the President about the Society's activities during the aggression on Sarajevo and our plans for the future," Topic told reporters after the talks. "During the war, our Sarajevo office has published 25 books and a monthly magazine called "Stecak" (typical medieval Bosnian tombstone)," he said. "Two years ago, we set up a radio station, which is broadcasting 12 hours per day." The Society was planning to found a bank and establish a student grant foundation. (hina) mm as 041344 MET feb 95