CRO VICE PREMIER TALKS WITH RETURNEES

TOPUSKO, Jan 19 (Hina) - The Croatian Association of Returnees (ZPH) told Chief Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic about the difficult economic and social situation in areas of special government care (areas of Croatia destroyed in the aggression on the country in the early 1990's). According to ZPH president Josip Kompanovic, the rate of unemployment in these areas amounts to 55 per cent, and "unless things change urgently, the areas will be populated only by the elderly". Kompanovic warned Granic the average salary was 14 per cent less than in other areas of Croatia and the incomes were largely irregularly paid. The law on areas of special government care is not being implemented fully, he asserted. Due to the difficult social situation the returnees are unable to pay utilities, especially electricity bills, so the Croatian electric power company is threatening to cut of electricity supply to these areas. Kompanovic thus urged Granic to have returnees be allocated state-owned land and have the conditions of loans made more favourable. Goran Granic said the Government was restricted by laws and finances and can only recommend the electric supply company not cut of electricity for returnees in the following four months, however, a part of current outstanding debts should be paid, while the rest of the debts could be deleted. (hina) lml sb