CRO. VETERANS' MINISTER PANCIC VISITS MOSTAR

MOSTAR, July 11 (Hina) - Croatia's Veterans' Minister Ivica Pancic ended his two-day stay in Bosnia-Herzegovina by visiting the southern town of Mostar on Tuesday. Minister Pancic held talks with Bosnian Croat officials of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and Mostar, and representatives of Homeland War associations, addressing issues concerning Croat military disabled persons and veterans in BH. "Croatia will continue to provide care for disabled Croats of the Homeland War in BH, but that aid must be public and in keeping with the real financial possibilities of the Republic of Croatia," Pancic told a news conference after the talks. He confirmed Croatia would reduce annual assistance to disabled Croats in BH from 300 million to about 120 million kuna, saying he was satisfied his collocutors in Mostar, as well as those in Sarajevo and central BH yesterday, had understood Croatia's financial difficulties. Minister Pancic refuted accusations that Croatia's government had forgotten Croats in BH, saying the accusations probably stemmed from the tension created by this year's political changes in Croatia. "Croatia's national interest is a strong Croat people in the sovereign and independent state of BH. The government of the Republic of Croatia will do everything to defend its national interest," said Pancic. He added Croat veterans and disabled persons in BH were also entitled to the budget of BH's Croat-Muslim federation. Asked if his ministry was in possession of data indicating that some were receiving disability benefits from both the Croat Defence Council, the Croat component of the federal army, and the Croatian Army, Pancic said between 50 and 60 cases of this kind had been discovered thus far. (hina) ha jn