CONFERENCE OF BUNJEVCI CROATS FROM HUNGARY, CROATIA, YUGOSLAVIA EN DS

DS BAJA, June 15 (Hina) - A two-day conference of Bunjevci Croats from Hungary, Croatia and Yugoslavia ended in the Hungarian town of Baja on Sunday. The conference focused on the position of Croats in Vojvodina (northern Yugoslav region), the actual events in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the media's influence on the position of minorities. Croatia's Ambassador to Hungary Zdenko Skrabalo spoke about the position of Croats in Vojvodina, the topic that aroused the most interest. He also delivered them a message from Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic. Skrabalo pointed out that war in Croatia was definitely over, that the aggressor had been defeated and that Croatia could now care about Croats in the Diaspora more than before. This especially referred to Croats in Yugoslavia whose position, since they did not get any minority rights as yet, was a very important issue in Croatia's negotiations with Yugoslavia, Skrabalo said. For Croats in Yugoslavia, Croatia demanded the same rights that Serbs have in Croatia, he said, pointing out that now was the right moment for Croats in Yugoslavia to peacefully fight for their minority rights. To achieve this they must be united, Skrabalo said, adding that Zagreb would always support those leaders whom they elected democratically. A law on minorities was in Yugoslavia as yet non-existent, the president of the Democratic Association of Vojvodina Croats, Bela Tonkovic, said. Very concrete talks would soon begin with officials in Belgrade, he said, adding that to date, attempts by Croatian representatives to hold talks with Serb authorities had brought no result, since Belgrade would not even recognize the existence of Croats as a minority in Yugoslavia. (hina) ha jn 151421 MET jun 97