ASSOCIATION OF RETURNEES OF OSIJEK COUNTY HOLDS SESSION

( Editorial: --> 0649 ) OSIJEK, Feb 9 (Hina) - The constituent assembly of the Association of Returnees of the Osijek-Baranja County will be held in Osijek on 27 February, association president Tomo Povreslo said at a Monday session of the Association's administration committee. Povreslo believed the Croatian army should undertake the mine clearing in the county, as it could best and in the quickest possible way carry out the task. The head of the Osijek regional office for displaced persons and refugees Nada Arbanas told the session a total of 2,788 people have been registered with returnee status in the Osijek-Baranja County. Arbanas warned there are many empty houses in the area fit to be moved in. Pre-registration of displaced persons in eastern Croatia is also under way, she added, to the effect of determining the number of displaced persons in the area after the completion of the UNTAES mandate on 15 January 1998, and to see what their intentions are as regards the two-way return. According to the vice president of the county's Association of Returnees, Josip Kompanovic, Croatian displaced persons are under great pressure by owners whose properties they are currently occupying. (hina) ha 092146 MET feb 98