CROATIAN ALBANIAN REPS MEET HEAD OF GOVT OFFICE FOR REFUGEES

ZAGREB, April 12 (Hina) - Representatives of the Union of the Albanian community in Croatia on Monday met the head of the Croatian Government's Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees, Lovre Pejakovic, and discussed the possibility of sheltering Kosovo refugees in Croatia. The Union's vice-president, Pashko Kabashi, told Hina that the meeting had been called by Pejkovic, who said that the Croatian Government would soon reach the final decision on taking in a number of displaced Albanians from Kosovo. Kabashi stressed the two sides also discussed the possibility of placing Albanians in the refugee settlement of Gasinci, near Djakovo, which should be expanded for that purpose. Addressed was also the possibility of organising classes for children, with the Union's help. Kabashi said the Union had proposed that the Albanians who had Croatian citizenship as well as those who had permanent residence and work permits in Croatia, be allowed to accept their relatives from Kosovo. They would take care of their relatives on their own, but they would ask the Croatian authorities to recognise their refugee status and provide social insurance, Kabashi said. (hina) it/rml