DATE OF DONORS' CONFERENCE ON CROATIAN RECONSTRUCTION UNCERTAIN

( Editorial: --> 6521 ) ZAGREB, Oct 7 (Hina) - The date of the long awaited Conference on the Reconstruction and Development of Croatia is still uncertain and depends on the timeliness of Croatia's implementation of accepted obligations regarding the return of Serb nationals, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) spokesman Mark Thompson told Croatian news agency HINA on Wednesday. The Donors' Conference has been postponed on several occasions, firstly due to the disagreements between the international community and Croatia regarding the return of Serb refugees and later because of the lack of a complete reconstruction plan. The date of the conference lies entirely on the Croatian Government said Thompson. He said that the international community has tied its participation at the conference to the implementation of obligations which the Croatian Government had accepted. It has been clear for some time now that participation depends on an all-encompassing and objective reconstruction plan and the further implementation of the return programme, said Thompson. The OSCE is coordinating the international community's response to Croatia's reconstruction plan as well as its participation at the conference. Thompson said that the OSCE and other major factors involved with organising the Conference such as the UNHCR, the EU troika and the United States Ambassador in Zagreb had received the Croatian Government's Reconstruction Plan which was considered and a response formulated, he said. Thompson did not wish to give any comments regarding the Plan but noted that the international community is willing to discuss the document with the Croatian Government. UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Andrej Mahecic told journalists on Wednesday that Croatia was still not treating Serb and Croat returnees equally. Serbs are in an unequal position with regard to the return of property and reconstruction, said Mahecic. He said that the Croatian Government had not fulfilled obligations within the three month period to September 26. The government was expected to change the law which put Serb and Croat returnees in different positions. A Croatian reconstruction ministry spokesman, Vladimir Loncarevic, confirmed that the date of the Donors' Conference was uncertain. "If it is indeed held this year, then it will be in the latter half of November or maybe even December", the ministry's spokesman told HINA over the phone. Croatia expects assistance from the international community to reconstruct the entire country, particularly those areas destroyed by the Serb aggression as well as motivating life in these regions. Croatia requires US$2.5 billion over the next five years and hopes that a portion of these finances will come from the international community concluded Loncarevic. (Hina) sp jn 071605 MET oct 98