RETURN TO VUKOVAR IMPORTANT BOTH TO CROATIA AND INTERNATIONAL COMM UNITY - GRANIC

UNITY - GRANIC VINKOVCI, June 8 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister, Mate Granic, who was aboard the 'Peace Train For Vukovar', told reporters on the train that this day, that was the day of the return to Vukovar, was exceptionally important not only for Croatia but also for the international community as the peaceful reintegration of eastern Slavonia was important for peace and stability in Europe. A speech of Croatian President Franjo Tudjman was being expected with great interest, Granic said anticipating the extensive coverage of the event by foreign media. The success of the peaceful reintegration would certainly accelerate the process of Croatia's joining of European integration processes, the Croatian Foreign Minister added. "We all have been waiting eagerly and long this train. This is symbolic return of the entire Croatia to Vukovar. The train represents the return of people, the reconstruction of the devastated area, in which the whole of Croatia will take part," Tudjman's deputy chief-of- staff, Vesna Skare Ozbolt, told reporters on the train. She voiced confidence that Croatia had met all political prerequisites - the elections were conducted and the Croatian currency, kuna, and laws introduced (into the Danube river area). The return of people, the reconstruction of houses and return of all who would like to come back to their former places of residences should ensue now, she evaluated. We had all legal conditions and fulfilled political prerequisites for that, she added. UNTAES would be here for some time and we would see what decision the UN on the mandate would make, and I thought that when we had really done all that was necessary, UNTAES in this form and composition had no longer its function. After July 15, 5,000 (UN) troops would have nothing to do in the Croatian Danube river area. I thought that in the remaining six months by the end of the year, the mandate of UNTAES should be different than it used to be so far, Skare-Ozbolt, expressed her opinion. A mother from Vukovar whose sons had been killed during the siege of Vukovar, Kata Soljic, told reporters on the train that she was happy to come back to Vukovar. She thanked Croatian President and everybody who made it possible for this train to depart eventually from Zagreb to Vukovar. "I have never lost hope for past seven years that I will come back to Vukovar. My children remained there who did not want to leave their home," Soljic said. "People should stay in their homes and look into the eyes of their neighbours. I think it is fair and just. I wish that our return be in peace and I am glad that the President has made it possible to be in a peaceful way without new victims," she added. (hina) mš 081407 MET jun 97