ERUDT, Nov 12 (Hina)- The town of Erdut on Thursday witnessed a +ceremony celebrating the third anniversary of the Erdut Agreement +on reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Sirmium +into the Croatian administrative
system. + Present at the ceremony at the Erdut castle, where the agreement was +signed in 1995, were representatives of the United Nations, +Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), +National Trust-Establishment Committee, Article 11 Commission +(which monitors implementation of the Agreement), Joint Municipal +Council (comprising predominantly Serb municipalities), Osijek-+Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem county leaders and representatives of +national minorities. + President of the National Trust-Establishment Committee Vesna +Skare-Ozbolt said that the Erdut Agreement "established a new +framework for peace and augured an imminent reintegration of that +last occupied C
ERUDT, Nov 12 (Hina)- The town of Erdut on Thursday witnessed a
ceremony celebrating the third anniversary of the Erdut Agreement
on reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Sirmium
into the Croatian administrative system.
Present at the ceremony at the Erdut castle, where the agreement was
signed in 1995, were representatives of the United Nations,
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
National Trust-Establishment Committee, Article 11 Commission
(which monitors implementation of the Agreement), Joint Municipal
Council (comprising predominantly Serb municipalities), Osijek-
Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem county leaders and representatives of
national minorities.
President of the National Trust-Establishment Committee Vesna
Skare-Ozbolt said that the Erdut Agreement "established a new
framework for peace and augured an imminent reintegration of that
last occupied Croatian region into the Croatian administrative
system".
Skare-Ozbolt stressed that the decision on peaceful reintegration
of the Danube region reflected the Government's determination to
protect all of its citizens and thanked international
representatives for their cooperation in the stabilisation of the
situation in the region.
"During the first nine months after the expiry of UNTAES's mandate
the return of refugees has been proceeding with no major
incidents", said Skare-Ozbolt. She added that Croatia expected
"concrete assistance and partnership of the international
community" for the reconstruction of the Croatian Danube region,
which will require US$2.5 billion.
A former transitional administrator for the Danube region, Jacques
Paul Klein, Article 11 Commission head, ambassador Rudolf Bogner
and the head of the Government's office for cooperation with the
OSCE, Tomislav Vidosevic, also emphasised that the international
community should assist in Croatia's reconstruction.
The Danube region needs reconstruction, but emotional and
spiritual problems, such as intolerance, discrimination and the
legacy of the war, should also be resolved, the US ambassador to
Croatia William Montgomerry said.
(hina) jn mr/rml