CRO GOVT REPS, ARTICLE 11 COMMISSION ON VISIT TO LIKA REGION

PLITVICKA JEZERA, Feb 27 (Hina) - Croatian Vice-Premier Zeljka Antunovic told reporters in the Plitvice Lakes national park that members of the Article 11 Commission were on a visit to Lika (central Croatia) to gain insight into problems in the areas of special state concern, such as Plitvice, Korenica and Gracac. Last night and on Tuesday morning, Antunovic held talks at Plitvice with members of the Article 11 Commission, consisting of foreign ambassadors to Croatia, who were headed by US Ambassador Lawrence Rossin. The Plitvice meeting was attended by some 80 representatives of the Croatian government and international associations working on the refugee return and reconstruction in the areas of special state concern. Prior to her departure for Gracac, Antunovic said the Plitvice meeting was successful. This is not the first visit of the Article 11 Commission to a crisis area in Croatia and every such visit can be considered an impetus to faster economic revival in the areas of special state concern, she said. On the visit to Lika are also international representatives wishing to help revive the areas of special state concern. "It seems that open talks, such as those at Plitvice, and direct contact with people and their problems, is a government method the international community recognises as good," Antunovic said. (hina) rml