RADIC PRESENTS PROGRAMME FOR RESTORATION OF INTER-ETHNIC TRUST

ZAGREB, Oct 3 (Hina) - Croatian Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic held a press conference in Zagreb on Friday to present a government programme aimed at normalising life in the war- ravaged areas of Croatia. The aim of the programme, adopted at a government session on Thursday, is to create a general climate of tolerance and safety, ensure equality and restore trust among people, ensure the speedy, safe and organised return of displaced persons to their pre-war homes and involve all citizens of Croatia in the construction of a democratic society, Radic said. Noting that the programme followed the basic provisions of the Constitution, Radic said that with it the Croatian government once again stressed its commitment to respect, protect and promote human, national and other basic rights of its citizens and to uphold the values of its constitutional system and the international legal order. According to the preamble to the programme, inter-ethnic trust was upset after a part of the Serb minority in Croatia participated in the armed aggression instigated by Serbia and Montenegro. The government passed this programme because the restoration of trust among all citizens is vital to the development of Croatia as a state and a respectable member of the international community, Radic said. Radic said that a national committee would be set up to ensure implementation of the programme in cooperation with other administrative bodies. The programme will be implemented in the sphere of politics, administration, internal affairs, economy, social welfare and health care, culture, education, reconstruction, return of displaced persons, and media. The programme was forwarded to the UN Security Council on Thursday and Radic said that it had already received a positive response. Radic stressed that the programme had not been drawn up because of international pressure but because of Croatia's desire to stabilise the situation in all of its war-affected areas. He said that the implementation of the programme would depend on the speed of return of displaced persons, stressing the need for international financial aid to create normal living conditions for returning displaced people. Radic appealed to the Croatian public to help in the implementation of the programme as well as in the reconstruction of Vukovar. (hina) vm jn 031711 MET oct 97