SERB NATIONAL COUNCIL WANTS TENANCY REGULATION POSTPONED

( Editorial: --> 7834 ) ZAGREB, 28 Jan (Hina) - The Serb National Council (SNV) on Wednesday staunchly requested that the implementation of the Government Regulation on Leasing Apartments Owned by the Republic of Croatia be postponed. SNV fears that the Regulation will result in inequality of citizens before the law and constitution. We insist that the implementation of the Regulation be postponed until the Croatian Government can guarantee that people affected by it will not be discriminated, said the SNV president Milorad Pupovac at a media conference. Croatian citizens who up until 31 March 1991 had tenancy rights in the Croatian Danube River region can up until 15 March 1998 request the signing of a contract on the renting of the apartment and in that way gain protected tenant status. According to Government information 5,000 apartments are in question. Persons who do not have tenancy rights will have to leave the apartments and will receive temporary accommodation. Pupovac said that he had nothing against people having to leave the apartments but asked the Government to explain the concept of "temporary accommodation" and how long it would last. The SNV president requested that the Government equalise the status of other parts of Croatia where displaced persons are returning with that of the Croatian Danube River region. (hina) mm mrb 281817 MET jan 98