CROATIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS BANJA LUKA DIOCESE VICAR

ZAGREB, May 20 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic received (Roman Catholic) Banja Luka Diocese Vicar, Miljenko Anicic in Zagreb on Saturday, Croatian Foreign Ministry said. Anicic told Minister Granic about systematic terror to which Croatian population and Catholic Church were being exposed in the (Serb-held) Banja Luka area, northwestern Bosnia. Two Catholic priests, one nun and several members of the Catholic congregation were killed in the last 15 days, whereas nuns from two monasteries were banished. At the same time 6 churches, one monastery and a parish house were dynamited and destroyed. A large number of Croats have been registered during last two days in order to be expelled soon. There are intentions to destroy all Catholic churches and facilities. Serb refugees from western Slavonia are used to carry out terror over Croats in the Banja Luka area. In the area in question no international organization protects Croats Catholics and Bosniacs Moslems. Banja Luka Bishop Msgr. Franjo Komarica does his best to protect his congregation and other unprotected citizens. Minister Granic informed Dr. Anicic of measures Croatian President and Government have been taking at the UN Security Council, the European Union, the European Parliament and other international organizations. They have been requesting that terror over Croats in the Banja Luka area be stopped immediately. Minister Granic also spoke of measures, now in progress, aimed at resolute condemnation of Serb authorities' conduct in Banja Luka as well as at the protection of the Croatian population. The talks were attended by Croatian President's special envoy for humanitarian issues, Ambassador Slobodan Lang, read the statement from Croatian Foreign Ministry. (hina) mms 201639 MET may 95