VUKOVAR TRUST ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE HOLDS MEETING

( Editorial: --> 4443 ) VUKOVAR, Apr 3 (Hina) - Members of the Vukovar Trust Establishment Committee Friday discussed statements made in the media by local politicians and the relations between local branches of the Serb Democratic Independent Party (SDSS) and the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ). Committee member Djordje Macut remarked to the Croatian side about a statement the president of the Vukovar HDZ City Committee, Petar Mlinaric, made on (Croat) Vinkovci Television last week. According to Macut, Mlinaric "almost openly called for the lynching of Serbs". Vukovar Mayor Vladimir Stengl responded by calling attention to the behaviour of (Serb) TV Dunav and Radio Vukovar which, he said, "almost daily launch poisonous arrows towards the Croatian side". Stengl also recalled the March 31 session of the Vukovar City Council when Serb representatives had left with the explanation that they were not satisfied with the number of Serb representatives among city authorities. The Mayor said he had the feeling they had come to the session with the intention to prevent it from taking place. Representatives of the HDZ and the SDSS will hold a meeting on April 6, Stengl told the Trust Establishment Committee. He said that SDSS representatives who failed to appear at a meeting scheduled for Monday confirmed their attendance at this session. Miroslav Keravica called for more level-headed statements in the media by both Serb and Croat officials. No City Council session should be held in the future if the parties participating fail to agree on the agenda, he believed. Serb representatives will leave the National Trust Establishment Committee if the situation in Vukovar and inter-party relations do not improve by April 15, Keravica said. A decision on the matter should be reached on April 16 by the SDSS Main Committee. Macut commented on the number of Serbs leaving eastern Croatia for Norway by saying the cause was high unemployment and the fact that the reconstruction of Serb houses had not yet begun. Antonija Kukuljica also commented on the statements made by Serb members of the Vukovar Trust Establishment Committee. Kukuljica was dissatisfied with the Committee's work due to inert Croat representatives "who rarely speak out, and even less frequently speak about the problems of Croat displaced persons and returnees". Kukuljica said she would step out of the Committee if Croat members continue to act in that way. The security situation in Vukovar-Srijem County is very good, Josip Grcanac, a representative of the County police, told the Committee. In March the police arrested the perpetrators of all reported criminal offences, he said, but warned that in the last month and a half 120 policemen, both Croats and Serbs, had left the force. Many did so at their own request as they were unable to meet the high demands of police service, Grcanac said. (hina) ha jn 031644 MET apr 98