DEPUTY PREMIER MINTAS HODAK RECEIVES MAX VAN DER STOEL

( Editorial: --> 8740 ) ZAGREB, Dec 16 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Premier Ljerka Mintas Hodak on Tuesday received Max van der Stoel, high commissioner for national minorities of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Van der Stoel told reporters that talks focused on housing issues. He believed the Croatian government is making considerable effort in order to find a solution for the issue. Van der Stoel welcomed the Croatian government and Mintas Hodak's intention to treat all citizens equally before the law and believed they will succeed. Mintas Hodak said the talks also focused on the impending termination of the peaceful reintegration of eastern Croatia, in particular the necessity to include regulations of programmes on the two-way return and care for displaced persons and refugees into the current legal system. "We also want to ensure that all citizens have equal treatment and equality before the law in resolving their problems, especially those problems which arise in liberated areas and the Danube river region, problems related to the return of people to their homes and the property issue", the deputy premier said. (hina) ha 161327 MET dec 97