CONCLUSIONS OF FIRST RETURNEES' CONFERENCE IN VUKOVAR

VUKOVAR, Nov 28 (Hina) - Participants of the first conference of returnees held in the eastern Croatian city of Vukovar on Saturday adopted some 20 conclusions at the end of the conference. The implementation of the conclusions should expedite the return of displaced persons and reconstruction of war-ravaged areas of Croatia. Among other points made, the participants of the conference requested the Government to set aside greater funds for the reconstruction of infrastructure. The returnees described as particularly important the consistent implementation of the Law of Areas of Special government Care and requested that the law provisions be applied to the Croatian Danubian area. They also asked the Croatian National Sabor (parliament) to ensure more funds for the reconstruction of family houses and flats. The international community was called on to invest into war- ravaged areas of Croatia, especially into economy, and thus assist the development of these areas. The returnees also called on the international community to provide true material support, not just moral support, to the Croatian Government and state for the reconstruction of war-stricken areas during the international conference on the reconstruction and development of Croatia which is to take place in Zagreb on December 4 and 5. The returnees requested that a separate law be adopted on the reconstruction of Vukovar. The Croatian Returnees' Association described as untenable the "court practice of sentencing returnees" to pay leases for the use of houses and flats in which they have been temporarily accommodated until the conditions for their return to their homes are created. They also requested the Justice Ministry to cease such acts against displaced persons. Present at the conference were also numerous state officials and representatives of the international community. (hina) lml