CRO FOREIGN MINISTER AND VICE-PREMIER VISIT VALPOVO

VALPOVO, Aug 25 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic and Vice-Premier Ivica Kostovic, accompanied by heads of the Osijek County and of the Croatian government Office of the Temporary Administration of the Croatian Danubain area, on Sunday visited Valpovo (25 km north-west of Osijek) where they held talks on the recently signed Agreement on the normalization of relations between Croatia and Yugoslavia, and on further process of peaceful reintegration. Stressing that the Agreement on Normalization of Relations was an important event because Yugoslavia had recognized Croatia in its international borders as a sovereign and independent country, Granic said that the Agreement "confirms Croatia's territorial integrity and sovereignty". #L# "It is certain that this agreement will significantly influence the acceleration of many processes, primarily the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area, and the resolution of problems such as missing persons, succession, some social and economic issues," Granic stressed, adding that the normalization of relations with Yugoslavia would contribute to the punctual conclusion of the peaceful reintegration, in line with the Basic Agreement and UN Security Council resolutions. Granic especially stressed that the peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area was the "main strategic goal of Croatia". Recalling that the main task of the Croatian government was the return of 85,000 people to the Danubian area, Kostovic said that sufficient resources had to be set aside for the fulfillment of this task, as well as an administrative basis and elections which would take place before the end of the UNTAES mandate. Kostovic called displaced persons to have faith in what had been accomplished so far. "Nobody can promise the return to be quick, easy and without sacrifice, but the return is certainly the main task of the Croatian government," Kostovic said. (hina) lm 251818 MET aug 96