195 SERBS RETURN TO GOSPIC

( Editorial: --> 6796 ) GOSPIC, Mar 3 (Hina) - From June 1997 to January 1998, 195 people of Serb nationality returned to Gospic, about 120km south of Zagreb, of which 78 are from the Croatian Danube River region and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, said the Gospic mayor Milan Kolic at Monday's meeting with the European Union's monitoring team. Their return was organised by the Croatian Government's Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees. According to Kolic, until now there have been no incidents in the return of displaced persons which confirms that the security conditions in that area are favourable. Currently about 150 family homes are being reconstructed in the Gospic area. The war damage to apartment buildings is more than US$ 6 million but their repair has not commenced. A more efficacious support is expected from the international community for reconstruction of the war damaged economy and infrastructure, said Kolic. Fernando Gracin, leader of the European Union monitoring team was particularly interested in the work of the local committee for return and trust establishment. (hina) mm mrb 031445 MET mar 98