ECONOMIC INSECURITY EVIDENT IN E. CROATIA - OSCE MISSION SPOKESMAN

( Editorial: --> 3200 ) ZAGREB, Feb 19 (Hina) - The general security situation in the Danube river region of eastern Croatia is under control, but the overall situation cannot be termed as satisfactory, spokesman for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Croatia Mark Thomson said in Zagreb Thursday. The local population is not concerned with what is happening today, but fears for the future, Thomson said. The departure of the Serb population is increasing, he added, but did not have available data. There are also instances of economic discrimination, such as the dismissal of Serb citizens, the OSCE spokesman said. He mentioned Slavonska Bank, which demands that depositors immediately settle pre-war loans and interests. All complaints submitted to the OSCE mission are from locals of Serb nationality which, Thomson said, indicated this could be discrimination of the local Serb population by Slavonska Bank. Other economic difficulties include problems in paying pensions and social welfare. The OSCE mission is concerned with reports on the security situation in the Knin area, where last week several instances of intimidation of local Serbs were registered. Even though the mission does not consider them serious incidents, the spokesman said concern stemmed from the fact that the incidents were occurring now, after several months of peace. It was announced today that the head of the OSCE mission, Tim Guldimann, would fly to Brussels Monday, to attend a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana. Talks will include the general situation in Croatia. A report on the current situation in the east of the country will next week be submitted to OSCE ambassadors in Vienna by a Croatian delegation composed of deputy chairmen of the National Committee for the restoration of trust, Vojislav Stanimirovic and Ivica Vrkic, and Croatian Ambassador to the OSCE Mario Nobilo. (hina) ha jn 191820 MET feb 98