RADIC ANNOUNCES BEGINNING OF RETURN OF DISPLACED PERSONS TO DANUBE REGION

REGION ZAGREB, July 7 (Hina) - Croatian Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic on Monday announced the beginning of the process of return to the UN-administered Danube river region of eastern Croatia. Radic told a news conference in Zagreb that efforts would be made to create conditions for the return of 40,000 displaced persons, primarily those whose homes were intact or less damaged, before the autumn. Reconstruction and Development Ministry officials were touring the region to identify buildings that would be immediately repaired so that first displaced persons could be invited to return in the next 15 days, he said. Radic said that teams of experts were assessing the situation in the villages of Marinci, Sarengrad, Ilok, Bilje, Baranjsko Petrovo Selo, Novi Bezdan, Torjanci and Aljmas. (hina) vm mm 071456 MET jul 97