CROATIAN DISPLACED PERSONS' EXTRAORDINARY ASSEMBLY ENDS

OSIJEK, Feb 8 (Hina) - By adopting conclusions after several hours of work, the extraordinary assembly of the Croatian Displaced Persons' Association ended in Osijek on Saturday. The assembly took place under the slogan "Elections in the Croatian Danubian Area are Displaced Persons' Last Battle Before their Return" in the presence of high officials of the Croatian Parliament, government President's Office and numerous displaced persons. #L# After the introductory speech of the president of the Croatian Displaced Persons' Association, Mate Simic, vice-president of the Croatian Parliament, Vladimir Seks, addressed the assembly stressing that he believed this was the last displaced persons' assembly. He added that the time of return was near and that the "reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area is nothing other than the establishment of Croatian authority on all of its territory". Elections were a necessary precondition for the end of the UNTAES mandate and departure of armed forces, as well as for the establishment of the Croatian state," Seks said, warning that "we all have to stick together" so that the return of displaced persons could take place. At the same time, we would be "democratically open-handed", Seks said, adding that Croatia would ensure a dignified life to all those who recognised it. He warned of "familiar scenarios of those who want to prevent the establishment of the Croatian state," and of the necessity to "show maturity and strength of all political parties. "You can be sure that we will be in Vukovar this year," Seks added. Croatian Parliament Vice-President Ivica Kostovic stressed that Croatia's strategic goal was the "peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area without blood and new victims". He said that General Klein would set the exact date of elections and that negotiations were being held about whether all conditions for the holding of the elections were created or not. The last battle was being fought, Kostovic said, stressing the importance of voting. Transitional Administrator Jacques Klein recalled hat the 15 July was the day when the UNTAES mandate would end. Out goal was to enable the return home to all of you who have been waiting so long, Klein said. He recalled what the UNTAES had done so far, stressing that over 130,000 people had had a reunion on the Osijek-Vukovar road, that the process was not simple, but that its final goal was clear. The displaced persons gathered accompanied General Klein's entrance into the hall with a long applause. Speaking about the set-up of the Transitional Police, Croatian Interior Minister Ivan Penic said that recently, there had been between 200 and 300 Croatian police officers to 1,200 Serb police officers . He added that now, there were 423 Croatian police officers and 24 higher officers in the Transitional Police and that their number would increase. "Our police will be a force which would guarantee you a peaceful live after your return," Penic said. "We are thankful to all those in the Croatian Danubian area issuing Croatian documents, we realise the difficulty of their work," Croatian Administration Minister Davorin Mlakar said. We are ready for the elections, he said. "I have come to thank you for your patience and understanding," Croatian defence Minister Gojko Susak said, adding that there must have been moments when some decisions could not easily have been understood, but, in retrospective, it was clear that they were the right decisions. "The main thing is that on 15 July Croatia becomes the main news in foreign media, that it gets off headlines and that we organise our country according to the judgement of the Croatian people, that is, Croatian citizens," Susak said. He called on the displaced persons to vote because it was in the interest of the Croatian state and people that the elections take place, but in such a way "that we protect our interests fully". The return to the Croatian Danubian area was the return of all of us, Susak said, adding that "in the Croatian Danubian area, there will be no Croatian and Serb policemen, there will be Croatian policemen of other nationalities". Representatives of parties also spoke at the assembly, asking everyone to vote at the elections. The assembly was also addressed by representatives of various associations. (hina) lm 081924 MET feb 97