CROATIAN WORLD CONGRESS CONFERENCE ENDS

( Editorial: --> 6026 ) ZAGREB, Mar 2 (Hina) - Upon the conclusion of a three-day conference of the Croatian World Congress (HSK) main committee, HSK President Simun Sito Coric stated that in the five years of the Congress's existence, the conference that ended today was the "most useful meeting of HSK leaders from 31 countries in the world". The leaders of national congresses discussed their experiences and presented their suggestions and proposals during their talks with some of the most influential people of Croatia's political, religious, public and cultural life, Coric told a press conference. The HSK leadership also visited the Croatian Danube region and presented DM 8,500 to a returnee family with ten children from Ilok. The HSK also presented the second, updated edition of the "Address Book of Croatian Associations and Institutions Outside Of Croatia", whose editor is Josip Vinski from Canada. The publication is distributed in Croatia by the Croatian Information Centre. The priority task of the HSK, along with its publishing activities, is the granting of scholarships for students and work on the return of Croat emigrants to their homeland, Coric said. There are no problems on the state level preventing their return - problems are occurring now on local levels, mainly in municipalities, Coric said, calling on responsible people to solve this problem. There is still no programme for returnees, he said, adding that the programme should be drawn up as soon as possible. (hina) jn rm /mb 021700 MET mar 98