CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER PRESENTS BOOK IN VUKOVAR ( Editorial: --> 1816 )

( Editorial: --> 1816 ) VUKOVAR, Nov 18 (Hina) - Senior Croatian officials presented a book in Vukovar on Tuesday to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the occupation of this eastern Croatian town by Yugoslav army and rebel Serb forces and to mark the beginning of post-war reconstruction. The book "Vukovar - The Challenge of Reconstruction" was presented at a ceremony in the rebuilt county building by Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa, chairwoman of the National Trust Establishment Committee Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic and UN Deputy Transitional Administrator Souren Seraydarian. The book, written in English by a group of experts from the Ministry of Reconstruction and Development, includes an overview of the city's history, the general situation before the war and data on war damage and reconstruction projects. "In memory of all those we remember today, who fell and suffered for Vukovar, the Croatian government will rebuild this town so that it will again become a cultural, spiritual and economic centre of this part of Croatia," Matesa said at the presentation ceremony. "We see Vukovar in the future as the second Croatian port, the starting point on the Danube-Sava canal, and as a centre of small and medium-sized companies, but most of all as the town which has managed to return from the dead and cross the line between death and life," the Prime Minister said. Announcing a new international donors' conference to raise funds for the reconstruction of Vukovar, Matesa appealed to the attending ambassadors to promote the need for the reconstruction of the town so that "Croatia and the international community could prove that everything that has been so far achieved in the Croatian Danube region is good, possible and desirable if it is conducive to the general idea of coexistence." Seraydarian expressed satisfaction with recent initiatives of the Croatian government aimed at restoring inter-ethnic trust, and full confidence in future steps of the Croatian leadership. He said an even development of all areas of Croatia, equal rights for all in the reconstruction process, employment in public companies and state administration without discrimination, and the recognition of pre-war tenancy rights would guarantee a peaceful, legal and permanent reintegration. The end of the UNTAES mandate is nearing and we are sure that the spirit of reconciliation will remain in this area, Seraydarian said, adding that it was the right time for the Croatian government to assume its responsibilities, and that the UN Transitional Administrator would announce that soon. "Today's presentation of the book is symbolic because we are paying respect to the dead and are sending a clear message about the future of this town," Skare-Ozbolt said. "We'll best repay the dead by reviving Vukovar as soon as possible." Radic said the book was "a challenge to the world and to all those who want to identify themselves with the rebirth of Vukovar." He recalled that about two billion US dollars had so far been invested in the reconstruction of Croatia, with a foreign share of barely two percent. "Everything we are doing is aimed at returning displaced persons. Conditions for reconstruction are the same for all and we will create conditions for everyone to return to their homes," Radic said. The ceremony was attended by Culture Minister Bozo Biskupic, Minister of Urban Planning, Building and Housing Marko Sirac, minister without portfolio Juraj Njavro, government adviser Ivan Majdak, local Serb representatives, Osijek and Vukovar County prefects Anica Horvat and Rudolf Koenig, Vukovar and Ilok mayors Vladimir Stengl and Stipan Kraljevic, head of the Office for Refugees and Displaced Persons Lovre Pejkovic, president of the Association of Displaced Persons of Croatia Mato Simic, heads of municipalities in the Danube region and ambassadors accredited in Croatia. Before the book presentation, the government delegation held talks with Vukovar County Prefect Koenig and Mayor Stengl on the current situation in the region and the town. (hina) vm 182023 MET nov 97