ZADAR AREA ZADAR, March 9 (Hina) - OSCE Secretary-General Jan Kubis, accompanied by Croatia's Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul and Development Minister Bozidar Kalmeta, on Tuesday afternoon visited the Zadar hinterland (southern Croatia)
to become acquainted with progress in the reconstruction of the formerly war-stricken area.
ZADAR, March 9 (Hina) - OSCE Secretary-General Jan Kubis, accompanied
by Croatia's Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul and Development Minister
Bozidar Kalmeta, on Tuesday afternoon visited the Zadar hinterland
(southern Croatia) to become acquainted with progress in the
reconstruction of the formerly war-stricken area.#L#
Later in the day, Kubis told reporters in the city of Zadar that he
was encouraged by what he had seen and by the fact that one of the
main priorities of the incumbent Croatian government was the
reconstruction of houses and restitution of property.
The government has a plan which can be reviewed item by item and
therefore my impression is positive, the official of the Organisation
for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said.
Kubis, who toured the villages of Kasic, Kula Atlagic, Benkovacko Selo
and the town of Benkovac, talked with local authorities and Serb
returnees about problems in the removal of land mines and other
issues.
Addressing reporters, Minister Zuzul said he was pleased with the
statement Kubis gave after touring the area.
"We are ready and resolved to carry out our duties, not only towards
the citizens of Serb ethnic background but also towards the citizens
of Croat ethnic background who are living here. We shall enable
everybody, regardless of their ethnic origin, to have a home and their
property," the minister said.
In the village of Kasic, Kubis and the delegation were welcomed by
Assistant Development Minister Ljudevit Herceg, who informed the OSCE
official of the government's efforts to accelerate the return of
Serbs.
At the moment, 600 Serb houses are being reconstructed in Zadar
County, Herceg said. Problems in the reconstruction refer to the lack
of documents proving ownership and mine-infested areas, he added.
Asked by Kubis whether the government was conducting campaigns aimed
at encouraging local Serb to return, Herceg answered in the
affirmative.
Serb returnees in the town of Benkovac, who talked with Kubis, said
they trusted the Croatian authorities and believed that the process of
return would be stepped up.
(Hina) ms