CROATIAN EMBASSY IN PARIS PROTESTS AGAINST "YU-FLAG"

PARIS, Nov 13 (Hina) - Croatian Embassy in Paris expressed surprise and protest in a statement issued on Saturday in connection with yesterday's celebration of the 75th anniversary of the cessation of hostilities, signed at the end of the World War I. The flag of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) was hoisted together with the flags of the USA, Japan, Belgium and other countries at the solemn ceremony at the Etoileu Square. The Croatian Embassy requested for explanation from the French authorities. The statement said that for the Republic of Croatia that flag is a symbol of the state which was "buried" by the international community almost two years ago. The aggression against Croatia was committed under the flag of the communist totalitarian regime. Hundreds of thousands of Croats were expelled and tens of thousands wounded in the result of the aggression. Extensive damage was inflicted and our historical and cultural monuments destroyed, said the statement. 131921 MET nov 93