COUNCIL OF EUROPE DELEGATION VISITS VUKOVAR

( Editorial: --> 6793 ) VUKOVAR, Oct 8 (Hina) - A delegation of the Council of Europe Committee for Migrations on Thursday visited Vukovar, in eastern Slavonia, where it talked with the county prefect Rudolf Keonig. About 10,000 people, exiled during the Serb aggression, have returned to the Vukovar County, while another 40,000 are awaiting return, Koenig said informing the delegation about the process of reconstruction and return in the county. The reconstruction process is slow due to limited funds allocated from the state budget. Another considerable obstacle to a speedier return of displaced people is the fact that Serb citizens are still occupying a large number of Croat houses. There are about 1,500 displaced Serb families in Croat houses in Vukovar, of whom 700 are refusing to move out, Koenig said. A Committee member Olav Akselsen said after the meeting that his Committee would submit a report to the Council of Europe on the return of displaced and exiled people and refugees. During the visit to Vukovar, the Committee delegates also met members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),the U.N. Civil Police Support Group (UNPSG), and the Joint Council of (Serb-majority) Municipalities and the County Trust Establishment Committee. (hina) jn rml /sp 081647 MET oct 98