ZAGREB CENTRE FOR CROATIAN VETERANS MARKS THIRD ANNIVERSARY

ZAGREB, Dec 9 (Hina) - The Zagreb Centre for Croatian Homeland War Soldiers and the Zagreb County Association of Croatian Homeland War Veterans (UHVDR) on Wednesday marked their third anniversary. Centre director Herman Vukusic said the Centre's expert services have provided assistance to about 30,000 veterans so far. The problems of Homeland War soldiers was one of the most complex in Croatian society, and the unemployment rate of demobilised veterans is on the increase, and so is the number of incidents and suicides, Vukusic stressed. He added that Croatian war veterans desired to receive education and get employed. It is up to the Croatian state to provide these people an opportunity, he stressed. Croatian President's advisor Slobodan Lang said Croatia's experiences in war must not be kept silent before the world. "There might not have been a Rwanda if the world had known about the tragedy of Vukovar," added. Around 350,000 Croatian soldiers took part in the Homeland War, many of which have not returned, Croatian National Sabor's House of Counties vice-president, Katica Ivanisevic stressed. Present at the manifestation were many other senior state and local officials. (hina) lml