20,000-25,000 PERSONS TO RETURN TO CRO DANUBE REGION BY EARLY SEPT - RADIC

- RADIC ZAGREB, June 18 (Hina) - Representatives of the State Commission for the Croatian Danube Region, the Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees, and the Croatian President's Office, on Wednesday held talks on possibilities of return to the Croatian Danube region with representatives of the Association of Croatian Displaced Persons. The closed meeting was also attended by mayors and municipal heads form the Danube region. The president of the State Commission for the Croatian Danube Region, Jure Radic, said after the meeting that by early September 20,000 to 25,000 displaced persons could return to eastern Croatia. "It is the common standpoint that UNTAES no longer has reason to impede the return where it is objectively possible, where houses are empty and ready to be moved in", said Radic. He added that representatives of the Displaced Persons Association were informed about the course of the Croatian Danube region's peaceful reintegration, and about "preparations for the future fate of UNTAES' mandate". "People from the Displaced Persons Association told us they viewed unwillingly all that the Croatian Government has in the peaceful reintegration process had to do (in the form of) support and compromise, together with UNTAES, towards Serbs in the Croatian Danube region, while many of the rights given to Serbs were actually not the rights of our displaced persons who should return to that region", said Radic. Speaking about the clearing of mines in eastern Croatia, Radic stressed the process was progressing as planned, and added people were being given certificates on mine-cleared areas. According to the president of the Association of Croatian Displaced Persons, Mato Simic, "it is difficult to assess whether the return is nearer or not" even after today's meeting with Government representatives. "In spite of numerous requests for returning to the Croatian Danube region, UNTAES for various reasons makes it impossible and has become a brake on the return", Simic said, adding that local self-administration in the area has not as yet become viable. Asked if he agreed with Radic's assessment on the return of 20,000 to 25,000 persons to the Croatian Danube region by early September, Simic said those persons might enter the Croatian Danube region and rebuild their houses, but he does "not believe" these persons will be able to stay and live there. (hina) ha jn 181926 MET jun 97