EXILED CROATIAN MAYORS ON PEACEFUL REINTEGRATION PROCESS

OSIJEK, June 5 (Hina) - The exiled mayors of the still occupied eastern Croatian towns of Vukovar, Beli Manastir and Ilok held a press conference in Osijek on Wednesday about results of the peaceful reintegration process. Beli Manastir Mayor Marko Kvesic said that the reintegration process was at a standstill because local Serb leaders in the occupied areas of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem did not recognize the legally elected Croatian government. Kvesic said that Croatian refugees were against any kind of aid to the areas until they were returned under Croatian authority. Stressing that displaced persons from Vukovar "have been and still are patient," Vukovar Mayor Vladimir Stengl called for compliance with time limits of the reintegration. Ilok Mayor Stipan Kraljevic said that the return of displaced persons could be easiest in eastern border areas where houses were preserved and there was less danger of land mines than in areas proposed in a pilot repatriation program, which were close to the line of separation. Kraljevic said that he had twice demanded from UNTAES civilian coordinator Gerard Fisher to make it possible for Ilok refugees to visit their homes. "I have received no answer to date, while Serbs from Western Slavonia, who have settled in our region, have been given two opportunities to visit their homes," the Ilok mayor said. (hina) vm jn 051539 MET jun 96