KOSTOVIC - SEARCH FOR 1988 PERSONS

( Editorial: --> 3091 ) ZAGREB, May 11 (Hina) - Deputy Premier Ivica Kostovic, coordinator of the exhumation of the Serbian aggression victims, on Monday announced that the number of persons considered as missing is for the first time less than 2,000. "Croatia is currently searching for 1988 persons," Kostovic told journalists during a break of the regular meeting with representatives of an association of missing persons' families "Croatian Phoenix", at which he informed them about the exhumation and identification of the aggression's victims. Kostovic said that the number of experts working on the exhumation would soon increase. Equipment for identification by the DNA method, which already exists in Zagreb, will also be installed in Split and Osijek. "We hope that we will be able to report a definite progress at the next meeting of victims' families," he said. (hina) as mrb/as 111949 MET may 98