VRKIC AND STANIMIROVIC GREET NEW YEAR IN CRO DANUBE REGION

( Editorial: --> 1852 ) VUKOVAR/ILOK, Jan 1 (Hina) - The vice chairmen of the Croatian national committee for trust establishment, Ivica Vrkic and Vojislav Stanimirovic, and the Interior Minister's assistants, Josko Moric and Dragan Djukic, joined revellers gathered in the two eastern Croatian towns of Vukovar and Ilok to welcome in the New Year. On the New Year's Eve they joined the mayor of Ilok, Stipan Kraljevic, who held a party at Ilok's castle "Odeschalchi" with his wife, associates and returnees to this town. Shortly after 11.00 pm Wednesday, Vrkic, Stanimirovic, Moric and Djukic, arrived at Hotel 'Dunav' in Vukovar to ring in the New Year, along with the head of the joint council of (Serb-dominated) municipalities, Milos Vojnovic, and many current citizens of Vukovar. After the midnight in front of the hotel, local leaders in the Croatian Danube area extended their best wishes for the 1998 to residents of the Danube region and entire Croatia. They also voiced satisfaction with the successful 1997. We are here to bring peace, security and well. All of us have deserved peace and we shall let nobody disturb it, Ivica Vrkic said. I am satisfied that the last year was a year of peace and success and I hope that the next one will bring more improvements and will be marked by the return of all (the displaced and refugees) to their homes, Vojislav Stanimirovic said adding that, however, it made him regret that "people are still divided and do not welcome in the New Year together." The Interior Minister's assistants Moric and Djukic pledged that also in 1998 the interior ministry would guarantee peace and security to everybody in the Danube region. They expressed hope that this year would be a year of the common good and progress. Moric added that up to that moment there had been no reports on any incident in the region. During the New Year party at Ilok's castle Croatian music was exclusively played, while at Vukovar's hotel 'Dunav' only Serb songs could be heard. (hina) mm mš 011158 MET jan 98