GRANIC: URGENT CONFERENCE NEEDED ON RECONSTRUCTION OF CROATIA

ZAGREB, Mar 15 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic this evening received the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata, who arrived in Zagreb from Podgorica (Montenegro). Following the meeting Granic said: "We discussed the need to hold an urgent UN-sponsored conference on reconstruction of Croatia and Bosnia, not only the infrastructure but also the every day activity". During the encounter mentioned also were the Croatian UNPAs and the need to work out a special programme for the return of refugees to their homes, said Minister Granic. He said that a close cooperation between Croatian authorities and UNHCR was agreed on that project "as soon as the UN Security Council reaches its decision on the new UNPROFOR mandate". Sadako Ogata expressed gratitude to Croatia for providing care for a large number of refugees and displaced persons. She said that the humanitarian situation in B-H following the Washington agreement had "greatly improved" with the exclusion of areas of Maglaj, Zepce and Usora under Serb siege. Ogata said that entry to those regions was an immediate task of UNHCR. She also said that President Milosevic promised to consider what he could do to solve this humanitarian problem. 152138 MET mar 94