OSIJEK COUNTY HDZ COMMENTS ON REPLACEMENT OF BELI MANASTIR MAYOR

( Editorial: --> 6601 ) OSIJEK, Aug 28 (Hina) - The real cause of problems in Beli Manastir is the split in the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), the head of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) committee in Osijek County, Branimir Glavas, told reporters in Osijek Friday. Glavas commented on the replacement of Beli Manastir Mayor Veljko Bertic (SDSS) and two deputy mayors, who received a vote of no confidence at a session of the Beli Manastir Town Council on 21 August. The HDZ believes that the SDSS will overcome the crisis because that is one of preconditions for the efficient work to the benefit of residents of the Baranja region, Glavas added. He recalled that the initiative for a vote of no confidence in the Beli Manastir municipal leadership had come from among SDSS councillors who were dissatisfied with a lack of efficiency of the town leadership. Glavas described as ill-intentioned claims by the president of the SDSS Programme Council Milorad Pupovac and SDSS president Vojislav Stanimirovic that the "obstruction of Beli Manastir authorities was coordinated by the local and regional HDZ". These efforts are aimed at enabling individuals from the town and regional HDZ committees to implement the policy of pressure and intimidation aimed at the departure of Serbs from the region, Pupovac and Stanimirovic were quoted as saying. Such statements do not contribute to the re-establishment and strengthening of trust but increase distrust and inter-ethnic tension in the Baranja region, Glavas said. (hina) rml 281534 MET aug 98