ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST IS CROATIA'S VITAL INTEREST - NATIONAL COMMITTE

COMMITTE $ E ZAGREB, Oct 14 (Hina) - The National Committee for implementing a programme on the establishment of trust, accelerated return, and normalization of living conditions, which the Croatian government adopted on 2 October, held its first session in Zagreb on Tuesday. According to Committee president Vesna Skare Ozbolt, the implementation of the trust establishment programme is a significant pre-condition for completing the reintegration of the Danube river region of eastern Croatia, and a vital interest of Croatia. She recalled that the administrative, economic and judicial reintegration of the region was completed. "The Danube region is where Croatia's greatest suffering took place", Skare Ozbolt said, adding the trust establishment programme would have its biggest test there. Croatia wants the trust establishment and accelerated return process to start as soon as possible, so that peace and legal order could rule in the country, and in order for Croatia to be able to concentrate on interior development after the international peace force leaves its territory. The highest Croatian officials will publicly call for forgiving, tolerance and co-existence, thus creating a climate for the establishment of trust among all Croatian citizens. Through legal, financial and social programmes, Croatian ministries should show people, regardless of their nationality, that they are equals in all their rights and duties. "In this way, Croatian citizens of Serb nationality should gain trust towards the Croatian state which implements the politics of equality of all its citizens in a real and not just declaratory manner", Skare Ozbolt said. This could be achieved, she pointed out, only if citizens of Serb nationality accept the Croatian state as their own homeland, which will be demonstrated by the degree and the manner in which they comply with their duties. "The establishment of trust cannot be a one-sided process (…) both sides must make efforts to make it work", Skare Ozbolt said. "It is in the Serb population's interest that they settle their issues in cooperation with Croatian authorities", she stressed. The trust establishment programme also deals with the accelerated return of displaced Croats and Hungarians to the Croatian Danube region, and the return of Serbs to other parts of Croatia if they want so. Croatian displaced persons should support the programme as well. Local authorities in the Danube region, of which the majority are representatives of the Croatian Democratic Union Party and the Serb Democratic Independent Party, have the responsibility to eliminate as soon as possible obstructions to the functioning of authorities in the region, Ozbolt said. She pointed out the significance of tolerance as the leading principle the media should make use of in reporting on and working out the programme. The role of the National Committee is to follow the implementation of the trust establishment programme, she added. The Committee's vice presidents Ivica Vrkic and Vojislav Stanimirovic will establish a joint office in the Danube region, Ozbolt said, adding regional offices will be established in war- ravaged areas. After Ozbolt's introductory speech, the meeting continued without the reporters' presence. (hina) ha jn 141734 MET oct 97