INTERNATIONAL OFFICIALS ASSESS DANUBE REGION SITUATION IMPROVED

( Editorial: --> 5368 ) VUKOVAR, May 20 (Hina) - The situation in the Danube River region of eastern Croatia since January 15 has been assessed as generally much better than immediately after the conclusion of the UN transitional administration mandate in the area, National Trust Establishment Committee chairwoman Vesna Skare-Ozbolt said Wednesday. Skare-Ozbolt spoke to reporters after a meeting with members of the international community's Article 11 Commission, in charge of supervising the reintegration of eastern Croatia. The situation has been assessed as much better than in February and March when, she said, certain tension had been evident. The Article 11 Commission was informed that about 13,000 citizens of Serb nationality had returned from eastern Croatia to other parts of the country to date. The poor return of Croats to eastern Croatia was conditioned by psychological and economic reasons. "We have also asked the international community not to link the donors' conference on the reconstruction (of Croatia) with the Serbs' return, as (the conference) doesn't have a political dimension, but is of an exclusively humanitarian nature," Skare- Ozbolt told reporters. Presently the chief objections the international community had referred to a difference in the number of incidents in the area and in the number of displaced persons and Croats who had returned to the Danubian region, she added. Today's meeting also discussed issues concerning amnesty, a consistent implementation of the Amnesty Law, and issues concerning a law adjustment act. Speaking about the security situation, Skare-Ozbolt said this month there were two eviction incidents in the Danube region and one instance of physical harassment. This, she said, is contrary to reports of the UN civil police support group and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which stated that about 50 incidents were registered in the area this month. According to Assistant Interior Minister Josko Moric, there is a significant difference in the legal qualification of the term incident as given by the Croatian side and that given by representatives of the OSCE and the UN civil police. "In most cases these are verbal clashes between displaced returnees and persons who are currently in their homes, and we can't consider these incidents," Moric said. Skare-Ozbolt said representatives of the international community had been notified about all the difficulties in the functioning of local government and self-government units in eastern Croatia. She said the Serb side was boycotting the work of the city administration in Vukovar. "If this continues the government will most probably appoint a commissioner for Vukovar," Skare-Ozbolt said. "We will try to eliminate all problems evident in the Danubian region and enable a peaceful and stable living to all people who live here or intend to return," she concluded. (hina) ha /mb 201939 MET may 98