SERB PARTY LEADER DENIES SERBS WILL CELEBRATE NOV 18 AS VICTORY DAY

VUKOVAR, Nov 16 (Hina) - On November 18th, the day of the Serbian occupation of Vukovar, surviving Croatian defenders of the eastern town, family members of those killed in battle, taken away by force, or imprisoned, both soldiers and civilians, will gather in Vukovar, the war commander of the 204th brigade of the Vukovar-Vinkovci- Zupanja operative group, Staff Brigadier Mile Dedakovic Jastreb, announced on Monday. He also recalled that during the siege of Vukovar, 90 members of his brigade had lost their lives fighting on the front line. Althogether 881 brigade members had given their lives for their homeland, with Vukovar claiming 4000. He strongly condemned the "intention of the Serbian side" to commemorate November 18 in Vukovar as their "victorious day". In a statement to Hina, Vojislav Stanimirevic, leader of the Independent Serb Democratic Party (SDSS), denied the allegations that the Serb side intended to commemorate November 18 as the "victorious day". The Serb side did not intend to commemorate any events on November 18, apart from the Vukovar Association of the Victims of War which would hold a requiem mass at the "Serb military cemetery", Stanimirovic added. Asked whether any of the SDSS officials would join the Croatians on November 18 in remeberance of the tragedy of Vukovar, Stanimirovic answered that it was too early for that and added: "If they were invited, perhaps they would come." (hina) jfk /ha mm