GVOZD, Nov 7 (Hina) - After a visit to the municipalities of Vojnic and Gvozd, some 50 km south of Zagreb, where she discussed refugee returns, property restitution and economic recovery with local officials, Croatian Vice-Premier
Zeljka Antunovic said on Wednesday that "some progress has been made, but it is far from being satisfactory." "Tensions have lessened, but progress towards our goal is slow," Antunovic told reporters in Gvozd, adding that cooperation on the local level was improving. She condemned "the terrorist mining of farming land in Vojnic, which claimed the lives of several people, mostly Serb returnees, between August and October this year." US Ambassador Lawrence Rossin said that after a local election in May this year the new municipal leadership of Vojnic and Gvozd had demonstrated readiness to harmonise interests and contribute to the prosperity of the local population, regard
GVOZD, Nov 7 (Hina) - After a visit to the municipalities of Vojnic
and Gvozd, some 50 km south of Zagreb, where she discussed refugee
returns, property restitution and economic recovery with local
officials, Croatian Vice-Premier Zeljka Antunovic said on
Wednesday that "some progress has been made, but it is far from
being satisfactory."
"Tensions have lessened, but progress towards our goal is slow,"
Antunovic told reporters in Gvozd, adding that cooperation on the
local level was improving. She condemned "the terrorist mining of
farming land in Vojnic, which claimed the lives of several people,
mostly Serb returnees, between August and October this year."
US Ambassador Lawrence Rossin said that after a local election in
May this year the new municipal leadership of Vojnic and Gvozd had
demonstrated readiness to harmonise interests and contribute to
the prosperity of the local population, regardless of nationality.
We have witnessed positive changes, Rossin said.
It is necessary for people to return, Rossin said, adding the spirit
of cooperation in the area was encouraging. He promised support for
the efforts the Croatian government was making in that regard.
The US ambassador strongly condemned the mining of farming land in
Vojnic and called on competent state bodies to find the
perpetrators as soon as possible.
The head of the UNHCR Mission in Croatia, Rob Roberts, said solving
the problems of ethnic communities would not be possible until the
problems of individuals were solved.
Luc Liebaut, Ambassador of Belgium, the country chairing the
European Union, and the head of the OSCE Mission in Croatia, Bernard
Poncet, welcomed readiness to cooperate with the aim of securing
prosperity for all people living in the area.
Attending today's talks were also Karlovac and Sisak county
prefects, officials from competent ministries, ambassadors
accredited to Croatia, representatives of international
organisations, Bosnian Croat refugees, settlers, and religious
dignitaries.
(hina) rml