OSCE OFFICIALS VISIT DONJI LAPAC

DONJI LAPAC, Sept 27 (Hina) - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's High Commissioner for national minorities, Max van der Stoel, and the head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, Bernard Poncet, on Wednesday visited the central Croatian town of Donji Lapac and held talks with local authorities. Municipal head Milan Djukic said the talks focused on living conditions, return, the reconstruction of flats, houses and infrastructure as well as education in the minority Serbian language. Djukic said he told his guests the assistance of the international community to Croatia was not sufficient. Following a tour of the town, van der Stoel said living conditions in the Donji Lapac area were at the minimum, which he said was affected mostly by traffic isolation, especially during winter. Van der Stoel and Poncet also met representatives of parties, Croatian settlers' associations and non-governmental organisations operating in the areas of special state concern. Milan Djukic, a minority parliamentary representative and head of the Serb People's Party (SNS), was recently elected municipal head of Donji Lapac. (hina) rml