SDSS DISSATISFIED WITH SITUATION IN DANUBE RIVER REGION

( Editorial: --> 1234 ) VUKOVAR, Feb 11 (Hina) - The Serb Independent Democratic Party (SDSS) is not satisfied with the situation in the Croatian Danube River region, the party's president Vojislav Stanimirovic said Wednesday. Certain decisions adopted lately have only increased the distrust of Serbs towards the Croatian government and this causes the ongoing emigration of Serbs, said Stanimirovic after a meeting of the SDSS Head Committee, held in Vukovar behind closed doors. A month ago, 72,000 Serbs lived in the region; today their number is probably even smaller, the SDSS president said. Stanimirovic supported his claim on the continual emigration of Serbs from the region with an example, saying that 25 per cent less pupils had started the second school term in the region. Announcing his visit to Zagreb tomorrow, where he and the President of the Serb National Council (SNV) Milorad Pupovac will meet with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, Stanimirovic said the SDSS Head Committee had decided to ask that deadlines for the solution of "burning, already agreed upon and promised issues" be set. Without giving any details as to the nature of those problems, Stanimirovic mentioned the registration of the Joint Council of (Serb majority) Municipalities, the implementation of the Amnesty Act, the Law Adjustment Act and the recognition of tenancy rights from 1991. Asked whether Serb representatives would step down from the National Trust Establishment Committee in case they were not given time guarantees by President Tudjman, Stanimirovic did not give any precise answer. (hina) mm rm 112057 MET feb 98