THREE-DAY ROUND TABLE ON SERBS IN CROATIA ENDS

ZAGREB, Oct 20 (Hina) - A three-day round table on the position of the Serb community in Croatia closed in Zagreb on Sunday. The event had been organized by the Croatian Helsinki Committee (HHO) for human rights under the title "The Serbs in Croatia - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." The discussion brought together representatives of the Serb community in Croatia, the Association of Croatian Displaced Persons, the diplomatic corps, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Croatian government, political parties, human rights organizations, scientists, theologians and cultural figures from Croatia, Serbia and some other countries. Participants emphasized that refugees and displaced people should be allowed to return to their prewar homes and that the coexistence of the Serbs and Croats should be fostered. "The conflict between the Serbs and Croats over the past few year will be the last, provided we look towards the future," Zivko Juzbasic of the HHO said. "Let's leave the past to scientists and look towards life," he added. "We won't be able to move forward as long as chauvinists, be they from Serb or Croatian ranks, are defended in the name of unity," sociologist Bogdan Denic said. Ivo Banac, a professor at the University of Yale, said that this round table was the first step forward in a bid to create a society worthy of living in. "I think that Croatia is strong enough for that and that both Croats and Serbs can successfully participate in those efforts," he said. On the first day of the meeting, a letter of support by UN human rights rapporteur Elizabeth Rehn was read out, in which she described as unfavourable the human rights situation in the areas liberated by the Croatian army in the summer of 1995. (hina) vm 201936 MET oct 96