SERB COMMUNITY ISSUES STATEMENT ON INCIDENTS IN E. SLAVONIA

( Editorial: --> 7073 ) ZAGREB, 25 Jan (Hina) - The Serb Community in Croatia on Sunday issued a statement saying that in the last three weeks it had received unfavourable and alarming reports on attacks on Serb refugees in eastern Slavonia and Serb returnees and elderly people who remained in the areas of Banovina and Lika. Appreciating the results achieved so far, the Serb Community called on the Croatian authorities to carry out their promises to do all they could in preventing incidents. The Serb Community also called on all Serb organisations to give concrete contributions to the establishment of inter-ethnic and civil tolerance. Only the Croatian government can and must secure the safety of every citizen, regardless of their nationality, in line with the law and accepted international commitments, the statement said. (hina) rm 251450 MET jan 98