RETURNEES INSIST ON BEING RECEIVED BY RACAN TO DISCUSS BILL ON RECONSTRUCTION

OSIJEK, April 28 (Hina) - The Croatian Returnees' Association (ZPH) leaders on Friday asked to be immediately received by Prime Minister Ivica Racan in order to discuss the Government's draft law on reconstruction which the Association views as unacceptable. This draft bill is "extremely humiliating and irritating," as it "absolutely equalises the aggressor and the victim," read a letter the Association forwarded to Racan. The law "negates the aggression launched against the Republic of Croatia and bestows rights to the reconstruction of houses and all material assets not only on Croatian citizens but also on foreigners who happened to be in Croatia during the war in 1991." At the same time rights of Croatian immigrants, particularly of those from Bosnia-Herzegovina are rescinded, the Association said criticising that bill. The Association added that it was also unfair to claim that this act on reconstruction will not require new financial means and asked the Government that has proposed the act "what kind of material damage was done to material assets from the end of the (1995) "Storm" operation to 15 January 1998." The Association held it was a period of "full administration of the UN mission over former occupied areas and therefore a period of the (UN) responsibility for the situation in the areas." It requested from Racan to receive its Presidency immediately in order to prevent "possible tumultuous reactions of displaced persons, returnees and others who suffered." On Thursday the Croatian National Parliament's House of Representatives endorsed the bill on reconstruction in the first reading. (hina) jn ms