PREMIER MATESA RECEIVES SERB REPRESENTATIVES

ZAGREB, Oct 27 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on Wednesday received representatives from the Serb national community in Croatia, led by the president of the Serb National Council (SNV) and parliamentary representatives Milorad Pupovac. Following hour long talks the two made a joint statement to journalists emphasising they were prepared to undertake further efforts to establish confidence and to work towards continually resolving vital issues concerning members of the Serb minority in Croatia. Premier Matesa evaluated the meeting as being an opportunity to discuss all issues with Serb representatives, resulting from obligations taken on by the Croatian Government during the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danube region and other signed documents. The focal points, he added, were extra curriculum studies for children of Serb nationals, the return of Serbs who left Croatia and the return of property. I believe the meeting was mutually useful and the talks held regarding the issues we discussed and everything we have managed to achieve, are a good foundation for further cooperation, Matesa said. Expressing his satisfaction with the talks, Milorad Pupovac stated that mutual readiness was shown towards solving sensitive issues regarding the status of Serbs in Croatia, particularly the return of property and the implementation of mutual returns. We agreed that cooperation, both mutual relations and also joint efforts toward the international community which can assist us with the implementation of the returns programme, return of property and reconstruction, he added. Pupovac emphasised that the talks also touched in the implementation of absolution; return of property to Serb institutions in Croatia in the process of denationalisation and other practical issues concerning the Serb community in Croatia. (hina) sp