VUKOVAR, 8 June (Hina) - After the arrival of the Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and representatives of the Government and all Croatian counties on 'The Peace Train For Vukovar' in Vukovar, where they were greeted by Vukovar mayor
Vladimir Stengl and the president of the Vukovar City Council Marko Ceprnja, the gathering was addressed by Parliament member and president of the Serb Independent Democratic Party (SDSS), Vojislav Stanimirovic.
VUKOVAR, 8 June (Hina) - After the arrival of the Croatian President
Franjo Tudjman and representatives of the Government and all Croatian
counties on 'The Peace Train For Vukovar' in Vukovar, where they were
greeted by Vukovar mayor Vladimir Stengl and the president of the
Vukovar City Council Marko Ceprnja, the gathering was addressed by
Parliament member and president of the Serb Independent Democratic Party
(SDSS), Vojislav Stanimirovic. #L#
Stanimirovic expressed hope that the rule of law would soon be
restored in the Croatian Danubian area, securing respect for human and
civil rights and preventing all forms of revenge seeking.
The Serb leadership has shown willingness to cooperate and it
expects messages of peace and reconciliation from Croatia and its
President, as well as consistent implementation of all regulations and
agreements, permanent demilitarisation and the cancellation of all laws
which refer to the temporary use of property of Serb refugees and to the
areas of special state concern, Stanimirovic said.
The restoration of the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural community
which existed in the Danube river region before the war demands
immediate financial investments in the reconstruction, the application
of the Amnesty Law and the organisation of the two-way return of all
Croatian refugees. Those who do not want to stay in Croatia should be
given just compensation for their property and all members of the Serb
community should be guaranteed cultural and educational autonomy,
Stanimirovic said.
The gathering was then addressed by Vukovar-Srijem County Prefect
Rudolf Koenig who stressed that ten days ago local bodies of authority
were established in the whole of the County. The local authorities were
established in an atmosphere of trust, tolerance and respect, he said.
"The (establishment of local bodies of authority) completes the
introduction of the Croatian constitutional and legal system into the
whole of our county, making it integral at last. The reconstruction of
homes and economy is our next goal," Koenig said.
Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa said that the white roses brought by
guests on the train should be regarded as a symbol of peace and renewal,
both material and spiritual.
Addressing the U.N. Transitional Administrator for Eastern
Slavonia, General Jacques Klein, Matesa said that at the time of Klein's
arrival in Croatia, few people believed that the area would be
reintegrated peacefully.
"To all those who believed that the peaceful reintegration is
possible, indeed the only possible way, I must say that the Croatian
Government will do all it can, through implementation of the policy of
its state leadership, to see that the Letter of Intent (on the peaceful
reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area) and all its elements be
fully implemented and that Croatia, like so many times before, can prove
that it is a country of highest democratic and civilisation standards",
Matesa said.
Calling on the gathered to take a look at 'this Hiroshima' around
them, Matesa called on all to turn to the renewal of both material and
spiritual life.
(hina) rm jn
081926 MET jun 97