VUKOVAR INSTITUTE FOR PEACE RESEARCH, EDUCATION OPENS CONFERENCE

VUKOVAR, May 13 (Hina) - The Vukovar Institute for Peace Research and Education (VIMIO) on Saturday began a two-day conference under the patronage of the Council of Europe in the eastern-most Croatian town of Vukovar. VIMIO became operative last week on the occasion of Europe Day with the intention "to contribute to the long-standing process of reconciliation, trust restoration and expansion of inter-ethnic tolerance in Croatia." The VIMIO project is backed by the European Union and the governments of Croatia and Austria, whose representatives take part in its work, alongside representatives of domestic and international non-governmental organisations, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Croatian President Stipe Mesic's envoy Neven Ivak welcomed VIMIO's opening, pointing out it represented a step forward in Croatia's integration with European structures. Welcoming the participants in the conference on behalf of parliament, MP Branislav Tusek said Croatia "is on the road to the European Union, and this road implies tolerance and mutual dialogue." The vice president of the Council of Europe Council for Cultural Cooperation, Naima Balic, conveyed a warm welcome on behalf of Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer. The conference closes tomorrow with a plenary session which will discuss VIMIO's national and international significance. The conference will feature a series of workshops on VIMIO's tasks and future programmes. (hina) ha