MORE THAN 13 300 PEOPLE RETURN TO CROATIAN DANUBE RIVER REGION

( Editorial: --> 2446 ) CEMINAC, June 19 (Hina) - There are 6,309 persons with returnee status in Osijek County and 7,032 persons with the same status in Vukovar County. However, the number of returnees is much higher because some people are returning on their own initiative, it was said at a session of the Croatian Returnees' Association held in Ceminac, eastern Croatia, on Friday. So far, some 450 persons, out of 3,000 pre-war residents, have returned to Ceminac. About 82,000 Croats were expelled from the region during the Serbian aggression and occupation. Participants in today's session discussed the course of reconstruction and stressed that completed reconstruction did not always mean return because normal living conditions were often lacking. The Association will therefore exert pressure on responsible officials to secure favourable loans for returnees through commercial banks, it was said at the session. (hina) jn rml/bag 191606 MET jun 98