SYMPOSIUM ON CARE FOR WAR VICTIMS BEGINS IN SIBENIK

SIBENIK, May 10 (Hina) - A three-day symposium organised by the Centre for Psycho-social Help entitled "The Approach to Care for Homeland War Victims - Victims of Psychological Traumas" began on Friday in the "Solaris" hotel complex in Sibenik with a lecture on the work of centres for psychological and social help, the difficulties in employment and suicides in the post-war period. #L# The symposium is being held under the auspices of the Croatian Homeland Veterans' Ministry with 150 experts from Croatia, guests from Israel and Veterans' Minister Ivica Pancic. Amongst other topics, there was talk about suicides in post-war periods generally among the population because there is no specialised data concerning veterans themselves. Professor Vera Folnegovic said that the number of suicides was not increasing but each suicide was a call on the experts and the entire community to act. She criticised relations towards that phenomenon claiming that it had been left to the Ministry, psychologists and psychiatrists to resolve. Minister Pancic said that economic development and a rule of law would improve matters including the status of Croatian veterans. He cautioned all political parties that politicising veterans and war victims and giving false pledges for minor party interests proved to be detrimental and must be removed for the good of the community. (hina) sp sb