STOLEN ILOK MONASTERY TREASURE HANDED OVER TO DJAKOVO BISHOP

ILOK, 15 Aug (Hina) - The former U.N. Transitional Administrator in the Croatian Danube river region, Jacques Paul Klein, on Friday returned sacral objects stolen by the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) from the Franciscan monastery of St Ivan Kapistran in Ilok in 1991 to Djakovo-Srijem Bishop Marin Srakic and Ilok monastery guardian Marko Malovic. #L# The stolen objects include two crosses, four chalices, one ciborium, a monstrance, four reliquaries and one signature. These valuable objects, which date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, were made of silver or gold-plated silver and were used in religious services, Bishop Srakic said. After 1991, they were in a strongroom in Novi Sad. The return of the 13 undamaged objects completes the procedure of return of all objects stolen from Ilok monastery by the JNA. I am proud to be able to return the monastery treasure on behalf of UNTAES, Klein said, adding that the hand-over procedure was the only reason he came to Ilok from his new office in Sarajevo. Guardian Malovic had asked Klein to demand from the Yugoslav government to find the stolen objects and return them to the monastery. The fact that the stolen objects have been returned shows that the governments of Croatia and Yugoslavia are on the way to reconciliation and that they are leaving, to the benefit of both peoples, their past behind, Klein said, adding he hoped that churches would lead the process of reconciliation. Thanking General Klein for the returned objects, Bishop Srakic said that Klein's task in Croatia had not been an easy one. The situation was complicated, we ourselves did not understand it often. But you are brave and wise. You knew your duty and you completed it wisely and courageously, Srakic said. He presented Klein with a gold coin with the image of St. Peter and Djakovo Cathedral. Guardian Malovic, who was the only Catholic priest to stay in the Danube river region during the occupation, also thanked Klein. The hand-over procedure, held in Ilok monastery, was also attended by Deputy Transitional Administrator in Eastern Slavonia, Souren Seraydarian and UNTAES military commander Willie Hanset. (hina) rm 151904 MET aug 97