SERB PEOPLE'S COUNCIL SECRETARIAT HOLDS SESSION

( Editorial: --> 9920 ) ZAGREB, April 27 (Hina) - The Serb People's Council (SNV) secretariat on Monday debated preparations for tomorrow's conference on reconstruction and return in Banja Luka, SNV president and vice-president Milorad Pupovac and Vojislav Stanimirovic said during a break in the meeting. The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, also discussed verbal attacks on Rade Bulat, an anti-fascist and notable member of the Serb community as well as the implementation of matters agreed between SNV, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Premier Zlatko Matesa. The adoption of a comprehensive programme for refugee return, the annulment of the Law on Temporary Take-Over of Property and the Law on the Renting of Flats are close to completion, Pupovac said mentioning in this regard clear application of the Law on Amnesty and Serb educational and cultural institutions. He invited all relevant political parties in Croatia to, together with SNV, remove the difficulties Croatia faced in the realisation of its long term strategic interests concerning the European Union, especially those tied with the position of the Serb community in Croatia, by fulfilling the Erdut agreement and the Croatian Government's Letter of Intent. Pupovac judged the verbal attack on Rade Bulat as an attack on one of the basic virtues of the Republic of Croatia, anti-fascism. At tomorrow's conference in Banja Luka, SNV representatives will advocate the return of all refugees to their homes, he added. Speaking about the current situation in the Croatian Danube River region, Vojislav Stanimirovic said that the security situation was improving, but the economic situation was deteriorating. The departure of the local population is of great concern, he said. The biggest problem in the region is a lack of employment opportunities and the inconsistent application of the Law Adjustment Act, as well as issues concerning military service in the Croatian Army for Serb residents of the Danubian area, Stanimirovic said. (hina) mrb/rm 272217 MET apr 98