PRESIDET TUDJMAN RECEIVES MR SOROS

ZAGREB, Nov 11 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman received Mr George Soros, a businessman and president of the foundation Open Society, at his request, said a statement issued by the President's Office on Thursday. Mr Soros asked President Tudjman to talk about the problem of delivering relief aid to Bosnia-Herzegovina, for which Mr Soros had earmarked 50 million US dollars. Since Mr Soros referred to the delivery of aid to Sarajevo and Tuzla, President Tudjman pointed out the serious problem of accommodating 200 thousand Croatian refugees from central Bosnia. The President said the unimpeded passage of relief convoys through the Republic of Croatia would be ensured, and that he would use his influence for the ensuring of the unimpeded passage of relief convoys through Herzeg- Bosnia. The talks also focused on the foundation Open Society, which Mr Soros had established in Croatia. Mr Soros explained that he also set up such foundations in other countries which had emerged from the collapse of the communist system in order to encourage the development of pluralist democracy. According to Mr Soros, recently established national states are an obstacle to the development of democracy and the integration of the new states into international organizations. President Tudjman stressed that the Foundation first must work in keeping with the law of the Republic of Croatia, which is the rule of law and whose aim is to develop all forms of democratic freedoms. The President also noted that many Croatian intellectuals asked him about the intentions of the Foundation, which now relies mainly on the people who were active during the communist regime and who worked in various institutions, far from the problems and interests of Croatia. The President pointed out that the Foundation should rely on the people who had been given confidence or on those supporting the established democratic order confirmed at three elections, concluded the statement. 111815 MET nov 93