SERB POLITICIAN LAYS WREATH AT CRO SOLDIERS CEMETERY IN VUKOVAR

VUKOVAR, Nov 19 (Hina) - A delegation of the Danube River Region Serbs Party headed by president Rado Leskovac on Friday lay a wreath by the central cross at the Croatian Homeland War Soldiers Cemetery in Vukovar. "Here today we have made the first genuine step towards the establishment of war-ravaged trust and national reconciliation. The set token co-existence could hardly succeed in Vukovar and the Danube River Region. Somebody therefore had to make the first step to break the fears and the prejudices, and offer the hand of reconciliation," Leskovac said. He pointed out Vukovar and the Danube River Region had become the pattern for the coexistence of Croats and Serbs throughout Croatia, and added that any deterioration in relations could negatively affect Serbs elsewhere in Croatia. "It would be unjustified and unfair, and that is why we are firm in our belief that what we are doing is a necessity, not only of this area and the moment we are living in, but also a way for the Serb ethnic community to take a fair and dignified place in the Croatian state and society," Leskovac said. He expressed hope all Croat and Serb national and political organisations would genuinely support today's wreath-laying, and recognise in it "not only a political message, but the genuine Christian need to re-establish what has been destroyed with war and hatred only with peace, tolerance, and deep mutual respect." Asked by the press if he expected criticism from the Croat and Serb sides for being the first Serb politician to lay a wreath at the Vukovar Croatian soldiers cemetery, Leskovac said he believed all "good-intentioned people who believe in peace and co-existence will understand the Danube River Region Serbs' act." (hina) ha