MINISTER RADIC TALKS WITH DISPLACED PERSONS' REPS.

OSIJEK, Aug 9 (Hina) - Croatian Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic, on Saturday held talks with displaced people and representatives of local bodies of self-government in Osijek- Baranja and Vukovar-Sirmium Counties. After the meeting Radic said the talks had revolved round current difficulties in the return of the dislocated persons and pointed out that the main problem was impossibility of free entrance of the Croatian Danube river area (under the UN Transitional Administration or UNTAES). "After we eliminate this technical problem, I believe that the entire Croatian Danube river area will be revived through reconstruction," Radic said. He added that the displaced were aware of limited financial and technical possibilities of the country, and said that everything would be done that additional funds be ensured in the next state budget for the return of displaced people. "I informed representatives of the displaced persons' association that the government will soon decide on the date until which all displaced persons should submit requests for reconstruction," Radic said. The minister added that UNTAES would be asked to enable all who would like to travel to Aljmas on the Assumption Day (August 15) to go on pilgrimage to this and other shrines of the Virgin Mary (in the Danube river area). The head of the association of the displaced, Mato Simic, described the Osijek meeting as good. "Our goal is that UNTAES leave check-points and that there be not so many controls and … that vacant houses in the Danube river area be better protected so that further ruining and looting of them should be prevented," Simic said. (hina) mš 092011 MET aug 97