OFFICE FOR DEFENCE OPENED IN BELI MANASTIR

BELI MANASTIR, March 31 (Hina) - An office for defence was opened on Wednesday in Beli Manastir (eastern Croatia) in the presence of numerous representatives of Croatia's civil and military authorities, business people and returnees. "The opening of the office is one of the major events in the Baranja region in the last eight years", said Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, Deputy Presidential Chief-of-Staff and president of the National Trust Establishment Committee. Skare Ozbolt recalled the occupation of the region in 1991, when state institutions had to be temporarily relocated. "Croatia has never given up Baranja or its people, nor has it given up the return and the establishment of its authority in Baranja", she said. She assessed that much had been done in the region following its reintegration into Croatia's legal and constitutional system. The opening of the defence office marked the completion of the establishment of state bodies in the region, she added. The opening ceremony was also attended by the Croatian Defence Minister Pavao Miljavac's envoy, Marinko Kresic. Kresic assessed as very important the fact that 84 members of the Serb ethnic community in the region had last year voluntarily registered as conscripts, thus confirming they accepted Croatia as their homeland. (hina) rml