MINISTER RADIC VISITS CROATIAN DANUBIAN AREA

OSIJEK, Sept 12 (Hina) - President of the Croatian State Commission for the Croatian Danube river region, Jure Radic, and associates, on Friday visited the Osijek-Baranja County which is under the UN Transitional Administration. During his visit to the Baranja municipalities of Darda, Ceminac, Knezevi Vinogradi, Draz and Popovac, municipal leaders informed him about the difficulties in the completion of the peaceful reintegration, stressing that the process of issuing confirmations for the plan of return of displaced persons should be accelerated, offices should be found for certain municipal authorities and reconstruct the economy in the area, especially the agricultural industry "Belje". #L# Radic met with the mayor of Beli Manastir , Veljko Bertic, municipal leaders of the UN-administered Osijek-Baranja County area and representatives of the Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Srijem municipalities' Joint Council. Speaking about the priorities in the continuation of the peaceful reintegration, Radic mentioned the speedy reconstruction of about 4,000 houses of third and fourth degree of damage. According to him, the Reconstruction and Development Ministry would launch a competition for the constructor in the reconstruction of these houses on Wednesday. Representatives of the municipalities' join t council and heads of municipalities with a Serb majority expressed criticism concerning education, social care institutions, pension and invalid insurance and the recognition of the years of service of the people from the area. (hina) lm mm 121808 MET sep 97