CROATIAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT WARNS OF REFUGEE PROBLEM

GRAZ, Oct 24 (Hina) - The problem of refugees is a matter of global importance, which has again become topical because of the disastrous refugee situation in Kosovo, Croatian Parliament President Vlatko Pavletic told reporters in Graz on Saturday. Pavletic is heading a parliamentary delegation at the second conference of the Central European Initiative (CEI) parliament presidents, which is taking place in Graz. One of topics of the conference is the issue of refugees and displaced people, included into the agenda in accordance with a proposal by the Croatian Parliament President. The Graz conference focuses on problems which are mutual to the European Union countries as well as those waiting to enter the EU, Upper House President Katica Ivanisevic said. These problems concern organised crime, parliamentary work, regional stability and refugees. The Croatian delegation at the Graz conference had several meetings with parliamentary representatives from other countries, including the Austrian Parliament President Heinz Fischer, the newly-appointed President of the Hungarian Parliament, Janos Ader, and presidents of the Albanian, Slovene, Polish and Ukrainian parliaments. Pavletic said that the Austrian Parliament President accepted his invitation to visit Croatia next year. (hina) rml