RETURNEES ACCUSE GOVT. OF TRYING TO DESTROY THEIR ASSOCIATION

OSIJEK, March 17 (Hina) - The leader of the Croatian Returnees Association (ZPH) said in Osijek on Monday evening the government's recent refusal to finance the ZPH's programmes was an attempt to destroy the association. #L# Speaking at a meeting of the ZPH's Osijek-Baranja County branch, Josip Kompanovic said the government had refused to grant funding for the completion of the return process and programmes of reconstruction, economic revival and employment in areas of special state concern saying the association's application lacked the applicant's biography. Kompanovic, however, believes that the actual reason for the project being rejected was that the ZPH has become "a thorn in the eye of decision-makers". "The applicant was the ZPH's Administrative Committee, but I of course could not write its biography. It is ridiculous that the government's Office for Associations does not realise that Croatia needs such projects. It appears that the ZPH is in someone's way so attempts are made to destroy it by withholding funding," Kompanovic said. He added that this was the first time the state had rejected financing the association, so the ZPH had to look for assistance in local government bodies. Kompanovic claims that apart from the reconstruction of houses and flats not much has been done for returnees in areas of special state concern. The ZPH has requested Premier Ivica Racan to replace the head of the Office for Associations, Cvjetana Plavsa-Matic, and informed international organisations in Croatia of this request, Kompanovic said. He warned that the government was not implementing last year's parliament conclusion under which the state would compensate returnees for court rulings ordering that they pay rents for occupying other people's houses and flats while in exile. Kompanovic announced that the ZPH would start filing suits against those who were not implementing the parliament's conclusion. (hina) sp rml