ZAGREB, April 26 (Hina) - Problems facing Croatia are also European problems, and the international community will gladly provide assistance for the return of refugees and displaced persons, chairman of the Stability pact steering
committee for the return of refugees, Hans Koschnik, said in Zagreb on Wednesday. After talks with Croatian First deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic, Koschnik said the goal of his visit to Zagreb was to gather additional information which could be presented to donor countries with the aim of amassing as much financial means for assistance into the region than had been planned originally. The international community wishes to help because it is also in its interest. We wish to have peace, and this is in our and your interests, so this help is not a gesture of generosity, but a rational political gesture, Koschnik said. Granic told reporters the meeting also focused on the impl
ZAGREB, April 26 (Hina) - Problems facing Croatia are also European
problems, and the international community will gladly provide
assistance for the return of refugees and displaced persons,
chairman of the Stability pact steering committee for the return of
refugees, Hans Koschnik, said in Zagreb on Wednesday.
After talks with Croatian First deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic,
Koschnik said the goal of his visit to Zagreb was to gather
additional information which could be presented to donor countries
with the aim of amassing as much financial means for assistance into
the region than had been planned originally.
The international community wishes to help because it is also in its
interest. We wish to have peace, and this is in our and your
interests, so this help is not a gesture of generosity, but a
rational political gesture, Koschnik said.
Granic told reporters the meeting also focused on the
implementation of decisions of the funding conference, especially
displaced persons, and the two had tried to clarify some issues
pertaining to the operative part of financing the return.
The Croatian Government is preparing an idea about a fund which
would be managed jointly with the international community. Of
course, we will be open to all other solutions, but these solutions
must be a part of a unified return policy which will guarantee
equality to all citizens, all displaced persons, independent of
their nationality," Granic said.
He expressed hope that until the arrival of Prime Minister Ivica
Racan to Brussels on May 9, the issues of discriminatory provisions
of some laws pertaining to the return would be resolved, which is
one of the preconditions set by the European Union and NATO.
Public Works, Reconstruction and Construction Minister Radimir
Cacic, who also attended the talks, said he expected the first
amount of financial assistance promised to Croatia at the donors'
conference would arrive next month.
He announced the European Union should secure another 10 million
ECU for the return of refugees and displaced persons.
Attending the meeting was also Donald Kursch, chief deputy of the
Stability Pact coordinator.
(hina) lml jn