CRO RETURNEES' ASSOCIATION ASKS GOVT FOR ASSISTANCE

( Editorial: --> 0026 ) ZAGREB, 6 Feb (Hina) - The Croatian Returnees' Association believes that the Government should adopt a regulation with a firmly set deadline on leaving houses in the Croatian Danube River region, currently occupied by temporary tenants. At a meeting held in Zagreb on Friday, the Association's administrative board decided to ask the Premier and the Defence Minister for the Croatian Army to help in the removal of mines from the Danube River region. The Association also decided to call on the international community and government and non-government organisations to help in the reconstruction and recovery of the region's economy. Croatian returnees' associations will also ask the Government to prevent the revoking of returnee and displaced person status. The Association's President Mato Simic said that there were cases where displaced persons had not exercised their rights from the Law on Reconstruction and were still using temporary accommodation, but at the same time no longer had the rights and status of returnees or displaced people. (hina) jn rm 062007 MET feb 98