COUNCIL OF EUROPE CORRESPONDENTS VISITED VUKOVAR

VUKOVAR, Nov 12 (Hina) - The correspondents committee for following the implementation of taken over obligations of member countries of the Council of Europe, visited Vukovar (the Croatian Danube River Region) on Thursday. While there, talks were held about the political and economic situation in the Croatian Danube Region with UNHCR and OESS representatives, and with a Joint Municipality Council (with a Serb majority), along with local officials. Committee members Jerzy Jaskierni and Maria Stoyanov held talks with representatives of the Vukovar-Srijem county and the city of Vukovar, and paid special attention to the question of trust between Croatians and Serbs in the Croatian Danube River Region. The Joint Municipality Council also informed the committee members of the current situation, portraying a fairly dark picture. Deputy Prefect Andrija Matic said that the political situation in the Croatian Danube River Region is stable and that the Croatian government supports and promotes inter-ethnic dialogue. Matic added that the negative views of the Joint Municipality Council (with a Serb majority), due to its unconvincing organisation had disqualified itself and impaired its functioning. Matic stated that the Joint Municipality Council has from its formation attempted to take on the role as a parallel government. The deputy prefect concluded that the peace process in the Croatian Danube River Region has ended for Croatians, because "those with whom we cannot reconcile with, are not here anymore". (hina) ab jn/sp