MATO SIMIC ELECTED PRESIDENT OF ASSOCIATION OF RETURNEES

( Editorial: --> 1172 ) OSIJEK, March 20 (Hina) - Mato Simic was elected president of the Association of Returnees at the general assembly of that organisation held in Osijek on Friday. Thanking members for their vote of confidence, Simic said there was still "a lot of work to be done with regard to the return, the renewal of the economy and creating living conditions." According to the February data compiled by the Government Office for Refugees, there are 77,000 displaced people and 9,652 returnees in the Croatian Danubian area, Simic said. In other parts of Croatia, there are currently 26,308 returnees and displaced people and 44,346 refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina, Simic said. Chair of the National Trust-Establishment Committee, Vesna Skare- Ozbolt, wished the Association success in its work. "A number of refugees have returned to their homes, but the process of return, the reconstruction of homes and lives in these areas, are continuing," she said, emphasising the continuing efforts of the Croatian Government in this area. "We must be aware, however, that the attention of the international community is still focused on the Croatian Danubian area and we will be judged by the results of the two-way return" she said. She drew attention to the importance of organised return as a way to avert incidents. "The Croatian Government has great expectations from the donors' conference on reconstruction and development, despite certain reservations on the part of the international community," Ozbolt said. She stressed that the Croatian Government was employing great efforts to organise the return of displaced Serbs, while also devoting attention to the problems of Bosnian Croats who will not be able to return to Bosnia-Herzegovina. (hina) jn as/mrb 202050 MET mar 98