CROATIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MEETS COUNCIL OF EUROPE ENVOY

ZAGREB, Oct 14 (Hina) - The Council of Europe secretary general's special envoy, Michael Fluckinger, met Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic in Zagreb on Monday to discuss ways in which the Council of Europe and other international organizations could contribute to the peaceful reintegration of Serb-held eastern Croatia. Kostovic informed the guest about the Croatian government views of the political and practical aspects of the reintegration process, including the holding of elections in the area. "Those who weren't there in 1991 cannot vote, and neither can a new wave of refugees from Serbia," Kostovic said, adding that there was phyisical evidence of newly-arrived refugees in Bilje. He stressed that Croatia would guarantee the safety of the ethnic minorities and make sure that they were issued Croatian documents. The entry of Croatian public companies and ministries in the area would be crucial for its reintegration into Croatia's administrative and constitutional system. "The Serbs should not stall the process because the accelaration of reintegration through the establishment of Croatian institutions is in their interest," Kostovic said in response to a question by Fluckinger what massage of the Croatian government he could relay to the Serb side. Fluckinger said that the reintegration process should satisfy the interests of the local Serb population on one side and the Croatian refugees on the other. Fluckinger stressed that international institutions were not preparing plans for a special status of Eastern Slavonia. We're supporting all efforts of the Republic of Croatia to bring the situation back to normal by respecting Croatian laws, he said. (hina) vm mm 141506 MET oct 96