JUSTICE MINISTER TO CONTINUE TALKS WITH LEPOGLAVA PRISON INMATES

LEPOGLAVA, June 1 (Hina) - Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic visited the Lepoglava penitentiary centre Thursday to hold talks with 103 inmates who started a hunger strike on Tuesday, protesting against the small number of amnestied veterans. Ivanisevic told reporters after a meeting of four hours an agreement should be reached soon and the inmates, convicted Croatian Homeland War veterans, should discontinue their strike this evening or Friday. Ivanisevic said the prisoners had not known the Amnesty Commission had been resolving only 60 applications, of which 32 had been granted. The veterans thought all applications were being discussed in this round. When we explained the Commission would be discussing about 90 applications in June and the remaining number in July, and the process would be expedited, the entire issue was seen under a new light, Ivanisevic said. "I promised the applications would be solved as soon as possible," he said, adding every case needs careful examination and a solution related to the context. Ivanisevic will continue talks with the inmates this evening. Present at the meeting was also chairman of the Amnesty Commission of the President of the Republic, Josip Boljkovac, who expressed conviction a satisfactory solution would be reached. (hina) lml