SERBS IN FORMER UNTAES REGION DISSATISFIED WITH REORGANISATION OF INTERIOR MINISTRY

VUKOVAR, June 28 (Hina) - Dissatisfied with the reorganisation of the Interior Ministry, which is in the process, the joint council of (Serb populated) municipalities (ZVO) on Thursday forwarded a letter to Interior Minister Sime Lucin claiming that the reorganisation brings into question an appropriate representation of members of the Serb national minority in the composition of Interior Ministry's units in the former UNTAES region (eastern Croatia). The ZVO also claims that the number of Interior Ministry members of Serb nationality significantly decreased in relation to the proportions of the Erdut Agreement memorandum. The ZVO claims that a total number of police officers in the former UNTAES region dropped by 26 percent, and the number of Serbs decreased by 50 percent. According to the ZVO in some parts of Baranja the number dropped by up to 60 percent. The letter forwarded to Minister Lucin also claims that interior ministry members of Serb nationality were deprived of certain leading positions, without appropriate compensation. The ZVO warned about possible consequences calling for an agreement in line with the documents mentioned above and principle of being equal. (hina) it sb