OSIJEK COUNTY RETURNEES DISSATISFIED WITH MPS' PERFORMANCE

OSIJEK, Oct 15 (Hina) - The leadership of the Osijek-Baranja County Association of Returnees has expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of parliamentary deputies from Osijek-Baranja County, claiming they are not promoting the interests of their region, particularly of areas of special state concern. Croatian Returnees' Association (ZPH) president Josip Kompanovic said deputies from Slavonija and Baranja were the ones least engaged in promoting regional interests. He called on MPs to reject a bill on changes to the Law on Areas of Special State Concern claiming the bill would be extremely detrimental to the local self-government and result in insignificant budgetary savings. Kompanovic expects the government will respond to returnees' request for a meeting with Prime Minister Ivica Racan and his deputy Goran Granic. The association also agreed to appeal to the government to organise a meeting between MPs from Slavonija and Baranja and returnees to discuss returnees' problems. (hina) rml