BELI MANASTIR: MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ON RETURN OF REFUGEES

( Editorial: --> 2315 ) BELI MANASTIR, Sep 22 (Hina)- So far the Osijek-Baranja county has witnessed the return of 12,348 refugees, including 2,000 who came without obtaining the returnee status, said the president of the Osijek-Baranja county branch of the HDZ Branimir Glavas at a session of the HDZ municipal committee today. The return has been made possible, inter alia, by careful political activities of the HDZ, which returned to the Baranja region at the same time as the first returnees, Glavas added. He stressed that the party would do its best to improve the living conditions in Beli Manastir. Glavas welcomed the establishment of the Serb Democratic Party of Baranja as "a result of an initiative by those Serbs who want to stay in Croatia, cooperate politically with the Government and the Opposition and make their effort for resolution of the problems without unnecessary instructions from Vukovar". President of the managing board of the Belje food industry Baldo Matic announced that on Thursday the Government would discuss the state of that company. Belje's 1,300 employees would receive their back pay over the 30 days, Matic said. By that time the Government will assess the company's equity and draft a rehabilitation programme that will be presented at the forthcoming international donor's conference on Croatia's reconstruction and development. Belje is not happy with credit lines available in Croatia and is looking forward to assistance by the Government and the international community, Matic said. (Hina) mr 221953 MET sep 98