GLAVAS AND VRKIC APPEAL FOR POSTPONEMENT OF RETURN TO BILJE

OSIJEK, 9 August (Hina) - Branimir Glavaš, Prefect of the Osijek- Baranja county and Ivica Vrkić, Head of the Government Office for Transitional Administration for Resumption of Croatian Authority in Eastern Slavonia, sent today an open letter to the Association of DPs from the Osijek-Baranja county, appealing that they reconsider their decision to peacefully return to the village of Bilje on 23 August. "After we have fully considered the plight of our DPs, who have been away from home for five years, and especially the role you have played in accomodation of DPs, we would like to appeal to you to postpone your organized return to Bilje, announced for 23 August. We are certain that, in spite of your noble motivation, such return would disrupt the ongoing process of peaceful reintegration. Hence, we are prepared to make special efforts to ensure, along with UNTAES, that repatriation takes place as soon as possible, in accordance with a calendar agreed between the Croatian Government and UNTAES, say Messrs. Glavaš and Vrkić in their letter. mr (Hina) 092106 MET aug 96