DEATH OF EU MONITORS COMMEMORATED NEAR ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 2811 ) ZAGREB, 7 Jan (Hina) - A ceremony commemorating the deaths of European Union monitors, whose helicopter was shot down by the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) six years ago, was held some 50km north-east of Zagreb on Wednesday. The ceremony was held in front of a chapel, which was built on the site of the accident. In a speech held in memory of the killed EU representatives, Croatian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader expressed gratitude and respect for those who lost their lives performing a selfless and noble duty. Sanader recalled the sad event when a JNA combat plane shot down a helicopter carrying members of the EU Monitoring Mission. Enzo Venturini, Marco Matta, Silvano Natale and Fiorenzo Ramacci from Italy and Jean-Loup Eychenne from France were killed in the accident. On behalf of the Croatian government, Sanader expressed the deepest gratitude to the friendly peoples of Italy, France and Belgium. (hina) jn rm 071615 MET jan 98