CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TALKS WITH FORMER ITALIAN CAMP PRISONERS

ZAGREB, May 8 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula on Wednesday held talks with representatives of several associations of former prisoners and victims of World War II during the Italian and German occupation of Croatia. The talks focused on a possible payment of damages to the former prisoners, the ministry reported Thursday. #L# The representatives of the former prisoners' associations said that the payment of damages was not included in the damages of the former Yugoslavia based on international agreements. They asked whether the issue should be listed in the agenda of a joint Croatian-Italian commission. The body was founded to establish possibilities of Italian citizens becoming involved in the denationalisation process in Croatia. The foreign minister stressed that both the Croatian and Italian governments acknowledged the principles of international agreements, so the issue could not be discussed by the commission. The associations' representatives said they would try to get the support of Italian anti-fascist unions to use their influence on the Italian government for the purpose of founding foundations, such as Germany had done. The damages to the people who were imprisoned in Italian concentration camps during WWII could be paid via these foundations. (hina) lml