VUKOVAR COUNTY ASSEMBLY PROTESTS AT SERB ATTACKS ON ZUPANJA

VINKOVCI, April 7 (Hina) - The assembly of Vukovar-Srijem County sent a letter yesterday to UNPROFOR civil affairs coordinator Vier de Melom and president of the UN Security Council Colin Keating protesting at Bosnian Serb attacks on the Zupanja area in eastern Croatia. Zupanja, about 250 km east of Zagreb, has been on general alert for 700 days due to frequent attacks by Serb forces stationed across the River Sava in northeastern Bosnia. The letter vigourously protested at Serb attacks, particularly those carried out at Easter. The UN was requested to take measures to protect and prevent further breaches of peace in the area. Head of Vukovar-Srijem County Matej Jankovic told a press conference it was high time people forced from Vukovar and Ilok prepared for a return to their homes. According to the 1991 census, Ilok had a polpulation of 6,775, of whom 4,248 Croats and 484 Serbs. The town was occupied by the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) in summer 1991, and in October almost the entire population of Ilok and surrounding villages, about 15,000 people, were forced from their homes. JNA troops overran Vukovar on 19 November 1991 after razing it to the ground. According to the 1991 census, Vukovar had a population of 44,639, of whom 21,065 Croats and 14,425 Serbs. 071303 MET apr 94