ASSOCIATION "VUKOVAR" REQUESTS BAN ON GOVT. DECREE

ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina) - The "Vukovar" association on Wednesday morning handed out leaflets to MPs in front of the Croatian parliament building, requesting that a government decree on the purchase of state-owned flats in the Danube River region be annulled, i.e. that some 10,000 residents of the area be allowed to buy the flats under the same conditions as citizens in other parts of Croatia. #L# The association's president, Zoran Sangut, told reporters that because of the government decree, passed this March, the price of the flats was three times higher for the residents of Vukovar and the Danube region than for citizens in other parts of the country. Other conditions, such as interest rates, benefits related to years of service and the number of children, are also less favourable. Once they buy them, the residents of Vukovar and the Danube region cannot sell their flats for a period of ten years, while citizens in other parts of the country can do so once they pay the first instalment, he said. Citizens in other parts of the country can pay the flats over a period of 32 years, while the residents of the Danube area must do so within 20 years, said Sangut. The association collected 13,000 citizens' signatures on a petition against the decree and handed it to PM Ivica Racan, demanding that the problem be discussed in parliament and a fair solution found. Although he promised, the prime minister never invited the association for talks, said Sangut. The request for the cancellation of the decree was sent to parliament president Zlatko Tomcic, the parliament's vice- presidents, party whips, Zagreb Archbishop Josip Bozanic and President Stjepan Mesic, Sangut told reporters. (hina) lml