RACAN: THERE IS NO REGIONAL APPROACH NOR WOULD GOVT ACCEPT IT

ZAGREB, June 14 (Hina) - There is no regional approach toward Croatia nor would this government agree to it, Prime Minister Ivica Racan said during question time at the lower house on Wednesday, answering a question by a Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) representative. Admission to Partnership for Peace, announcements regarding admission to the World Trade Organisation, and the establishment and widening of good relations with Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, as well as the announced talks with European Commission representatives in September on Croatia's joining the European Union show that there is no regional approach, Racan said, answering a question by HDZ's Nevio Setic, who expressed concern about Croatia's possible integration into Balkan associations. Interior Minister Sime Lucin answered Setic's question about the return of Serb refugees. Lucin said there had been reports that war criminals were returning together with refugees, but police investigation proved that there were no criminals among the returnees. Those were people who participated in military formations during the war, but they had been pardoned by the former HDZ government with the Amnesty Law, Lucin said. Lucin also said there were no incidents in areas with most returns, such as Lika and the Sibenik area, and added the number of incidents was decreasing in eastern Slavonia as well. Social Democratic Party's (SDP) Ivan Ninic wanted to know what would be done to prevent cases such as the one which happened last week, when a branch of the 'Croatian Home Guard' association organised the unveiling of a plaque commemorating Ustashi criminal Jure Francetic in Slunj. Racan said the democratic Croatia had already condemned that act and the government would soon present a bill preventing the use of fascist and neo-fascist symbols. (hina) jn rml