CROATIA WILL NOT GIVE UP SEARCH FOR MISSING PERSONS

ZAGREB, April 11 (Hina) - The Croatian President's Chief of Staff, Ivo Sanader, on Thursday received representatives of the Association of families of imprisoned and missing Croatian soldiers, the President's Office said in a statement. Sanader relayed full support from President Franjo Tudjman to the families of imprisoned and missing Croatian soldiers and their efforts to find out the truth about the fate of their loved ones. The President and government officials raised this problem in all contacts with representatives of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the international community as a top priority and a precondition for the normalization of relations, Sanader said. The mothers of imprisoned and missing Croatian soldiers reiterated their appeal for the urgent ascertaining of facts, presenting a number of concrete proposals. Financial resources, expert assistance and all other conditions should be ensured as soon as possible to identify those who had been killed and determine the fate of Croatian prisoners of war. The mothers asked the Croatian government to provide a competent commission to tackle the problem and increase funds for that purpose, if necessary, from international sources. Sanader said that the Croatian state leadership would not ease pressure on key international factors and Belgrade until the truth about each missing Croatian citizen was established, the statement concluded. (hina) vm mm 111856 MET apr 96