RETURNEES TO CROATIAN DANUBE AREA WARN OF PROBLEMS

OSIJEK, Oct 27 (Hina) - Prefect of the war-ravaged eastern Croatian Osijek-Baranja County, Srecko Lovrincevic, on Tuesday held talks with returnees about the problems in reconstruction and obstacles in the return of displaced persons and refugees to the Danubian area. A total of 8,376 applications for reconstruction in the county remain unresolved. Out of that number, 820 are incomplete or had not been submitted on time, but the returnees still feel they should be solved. The returnees warned that their returnee status, which bears certain benefits, should not be discontinued until the basic conditions for return are met, including the reconstruction of housing facilities, the electric and water supply networks. The returnees stressed the problem of mine-clearing which has been stalled due to a lack of funds. Lovrincevic informed the returnees that the Mine-Clearing Centre stated that funds for mine-clearing had been ensured for next year. He said county authorities would come to an agreement with the government as to which parts of state-owned land would be allocated to returnees for use. (hina) lml