CONFERENCE ON PSYCHO-SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF WAR FINISHES

( Editorial: --> 0758 ) DUBROVNIK/CAVTAT, April 30 (Hina) - The first international conference on psycho-social consequences of war, organised by the Association of Croatian Veterans of the Homeland War (UHVDR) and the World Veterans' Federation, finished on Thursday with a plenary session and presentation of conclusions. More than 350 delegates from 39 countries participated in the five- day conference. They included representatives of veterans' associations, social welfare workers, experts in psycho-social care, high representatives of the international community and high Croatian officials. At the plenary session WVF president, Serge Wourgaft, said this was the first time that representatives of veteran associations and experts dealing with post-trauma stress disorder (PTSD) had a joint meeting. He said that PTSD and similar problems are common to war veterans worldwide, adding that this conference also dealt with psycho- social problems of women and civilians who survived the terror of war. Conference chairman Norwegian General Bjorn Egge praised the organisation and work of the conference which he said showed exceptional results. He announced a new conference on the psycho- social consequences of war, which will be based on the results of this one. The conference's conclusions state that the World Veterans' Association has established a special committee for issues associated with psycho-social consequences of war and its members include the most eminent world experts in this field. UHVDR vice- president, Dr Herman Vukusic, was appointed as the committee secretary. (hina) mrb/ha 302142 MET apr 98