SERBIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH SUPPORTS PEACEFUL REINTEGRATION

BELGRADE, Nov 7 (Hina) - The Serbian Metropolitan Bishop of Zagreb, Ljubljana and Italy, Jovan Pavlovic, said in an interview published on Thursday that his recent meeting with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman was "a historic event, important not only for the Church." "We discussed the return of refugees, clergy and episcopes, but the talks focused on the peaceful reintegration of Western Srijem, Baranja and Eastern Slavonia into Croatia," Pavlovic told the Belgrade-based Blic newspaper. Asked whether the Serbian Orthodox Church advised the Serbs in the Danube river region of eastern Croatia to stay or leave, the Metropolitan replied that everyone must decide on their position. "Croatia is obliged to ensure peace, order and safety," he said. In a report from Zagreb, Blic stressed that Serbian Orthodox Church representatives had expressed a willingness to help in the peaceful reintegration process "because there is no doubt that the Croatian Danube river area was part of the Croatian state." (hina) vm mm 072053 MET nov 96