MAJORITY OF TENJA RESIDENTS ANNOUNCE THEY WILL LEAVE TOWN

( Editorial: --> 7709 ) TENJA, Dec 11 (Hina) - Residents of Tenja, a UN-administered town in eastern Croatia, on Thursday held a meeting organised by the UNTAES. In attendance were 400 town residents, the head of the UNTAES Civil Affairs, Gerard Fischer, Osijek Mayor Zlatko Kramaric, Mirko Tankosic of the National Committee for the restoration of inter- ethnic trust, and the head of the Osijek regional office for displaced persons and refugees, Nada Arbanas. Opening the meeting, head of the Tenja municipality Pero Rajkovic said the aim of the meeting was to get a better idea of what would happen after the withdrawal of the UNTAES in January. According to Fischer, when the UN mandate in eastern Croatia ends on January 15, numerous international community representatives would stay in the area to supervise compliance with all agreements. They would also see to it that everyone may lead a safe and dignified life, he said. Over the past two years, the Croatian government had done a lot, together with the UNTAES, even more than expected, Fischer said. Croatia would continue to implement the signed agreements which envisage a two-way return and an equal right to the reconstruction, he added. As regarded the reconstruction, everyone had to bear in mind that financial means were limited and that without international assistance Croatia could not resolve all by itself, the UNTAES official said. Osijek Mayor Kramaric told Tenja residents it was time to take their fate in their own hands. "Your children will not forgive you if you make a mistake now. The Croatian state guarantees all your rights, but demands that you comply with your commitments", Kramaric said. "The solution of the situation in the Danube river region is the mirror of democracy for Croatia", he said. According to the head of the Osijek regional office for displaced persons and refugees, 11,900 displaced persons were registered in the Osijek-Baranja County. Some 2,000 had returned to all parts of Croatia in an organised way, she said, adding 711 displaced families had made an organised return to their houses in the UN- administered part of the County. Tenja residents had questions focusing on Croatian documents, the reconstruction and house sale. Fischer said that 150,000 domovnicas (certificates of citizenship), 124,000 identity cards and 140,000 other documents had been issued to date. There were some 2,000 cases still to be cleared, he added. Tenja residents greeted some answers with cheers, but were unsatisfied with most. They had been "cheated", they said. One resident of Tenja who formerly lived in nearby Osijek asked Mayor Kramaric how many returnees of Serb nationality had returned to Osijek. "There are 10,000 Croatian citizens of Serb nationality living and working in Osijek", the Mayor said, adding these citizens were included in all aspects of living and working in Osijek. Many held high ranking positions, Kramaric said. A group of Tenja residents announced they would leave the Danube river region of eastern Croatia after January 15. Asked where they would go, one said "We know that Serbia doesn't need us, but we are going there anyway". "(I will) do everything to return to my homeplace", another answered. Several said they would "try to go abroad". Orthodox priest Radomir Misic confirmed that the great majority had announced they would leave Tenja. Before the conflict, Tenja had 8,000 inhabitants. All 3,000 Croats have been in exile since 1991. Today, Tenja has the same number of inhabitants, including some 3,000 displaced Serbs. Only one Croat returnee family has returned to Tenja so far. (hina) ha jn 112048 MET dec 97