CRO RECONSTRUCTION MINISTER DISREGARDS SERB MP'S ACCUSATIONS

ZAGREB, Dec 16 (Hina) - Croatia's Reconstruction and Development Minister, Jure Radic, on Wednesday dismissed allegations made by MP Milan Djukic that he hated and discriminated against Croatian Serbs. "I do not hate anyone, including members of the Serb national community in Croatia, what you are accusing me of, but rather the opposite - I equally respect all Croatian citizens, and strive to ensure basic living conditions - from a roofed house to employment opportunities", said Radic in a reply to Djukic's open letter. President of the Serb People's Party (SNS), Djukic, claimed that "a minister who hates a people more than he loves his people and homeland, cannot perform a responsible and firm political duty". He further accused the minister of "perverted patriotism", "spreading lies" and delaying the decision for the return of refugees and displaced persons. Radic see's the essence of the disagreement between himself and the Sabor MP in the fact that Djukic in his letter refers to the Serb aggression on Croatia as "so called". In his letter Minister Radic says that Djukic's presumption personally offends him (Radic),the Croatian people, victims of aggression and the Sabor of which he is an MP. Radic recalled in his letter that during the Greater Serb aggression on Croatia 13,583 people died, 37,180 were wounded and that almost 170,000 Croatian, Hungarian, Slovakian, Ukrainian, Ruthanian and Serb homes had been destructed. The after-effects of the aggression are so great that they are impossible to be neutralised in just a few years, Radic. He added the Croatian people, despite everything, are forgiving, reconstructing homes and creating conditions for the return of all displaced persons. About 50,000 Serbs have already returned and Croatia guarantees equal return conditions to all Croatian citizens, said Radic in his reply to Djukic. (hina) jn ab/