SKARE-OZBOLT VISITS RETURNEES IN CRO DANUBE RIVER REGION

( Editorial: --> 1005 ) VUKOVAR/ILOK, 26 Dec (Hina) - The president of the National Trust Establishment Committee Vesna Skare Ozbolt and her associates visited Croatian returnees in Ilok, Croatian Danube river region, on Friday. Skare-Ozbolt visited Ilok mayor Stipan Kraljevic and four other returnee families in Ilok, Bapska and Vukovar, whom she gave Christmas presents. We celebrate this year's Christmas in peace after we have accomplished national interests and come to the eastern borders of Croatia, Skare-Ozbolt said. Mayor Kraljevic welcomed the delegation in his home, where he moved in on 13 December this year, although he had returned to Ilok last summer. Between 150 and 200 families have returned to Ilok so far, Kraljevic said. Some 50 families have returned to Sarengrad, 55 to Bapska and one family has returned to Mohovo, he said. Lovre Pejkovic, member of the delegation and head of the Government Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees, said that more than 8,000 people had returned to the Danube river region so far. Out of that number, 4,100 have been granted returnee status, he said. The number of free houses is increasing every day and the return of refugees is becoming easier, Pejkovic said. Skare-Ozbolt also visited the headquarters of the Transitional Police Force in Vukovar. A member of the delegation, Assistant Interior Minister Josko Moric, thanked the residents of the Danube river region for their understanding and cooperation. Not a single incident was registered during the past holidays, Moric said. The safety of returnees is completely guaranteed and there have been no cases of harassment, Moric said. The delegation also visited returnees in Bilje, Darda and Lug. (hina) rm 261552 MET dec 97