MATESA HANDS DECISION ON RETURN OF PROPERTY TO JEWISH COMMUNITY

ZAGREB, Dec 31 (Hina) - Croatian Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa on Friday received members of the Jewish Community in Zagreb and handed them two Government decisions on not selling land owned by the Croatian Privatisation Fund, which used to be a synagogue until World War II, and on the transfer of state-owned real-estate to th Jewish Community in Zagreb. The second decision regards three buildings will land in Pirovac Croatian coast). Matesa stressed the Government had through the two decisions shown credibility in its efforts and obligation to right the historic wrong done to the Jewish community. The land in Zagreb is consecrated ground because there used to be a synagogue there, which is a symbol o life, secretary-general of the Jewish Community in Zagreb, Dean Friedrich, said. Expressing gratitude, Friedrich stressed today's event was a stimulus for the Jewish Community in its efforts to restore its entire property. Jewish Community Zagreb vice-president Dragan Ekstajn said a Jewish Cultural Centre would be built on the location in Zagreb. The Centre will be an institution which will function as a public facility, open for all interested people, not only for members of the Jewish community, he said. (hina) lml