KLEIN, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF SRIJEM DISCUSS RECONCILIATION

DJAKOVO, March 9 (Hina) - UN Transitional Administrator of the Croatian Danubian Area, Jacques Klein visited the seat of the Djakovo and Srijem Roman Catholic Diocese for the first time in his mandate, and held closed- door talks with Bishop Marin Srakic and Assistant Bishop Djuro Gasparevic. Transitional Administrator and the religious dignitaries discussed the process of peaceful reintegration of eastern Slavonia, Baranja and western Sirmium, roles of the diocese and bishops in the return of displaced people and the joint life in the area under UN Transitional Administration. "All the time the diocese has been attentively followed the course of the process of peaceful reintegration. Judging by what has been done so far, we are firmly assured that you will bring successfully your difficult task to an end. Certainly, bishops and the diocese have an important role in the process, but we shall not approach any political issues. We have our filed of work and it is to educate our faithful and continue to spread the spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness," Msgr. Srakic told Gen. Klein. He stressed that 80,000 believers of the Djakovo and Srijem Diocese had been in exile for six years and had been awaiting impatiently the return. The reason of my meeting with you was to ask help from you, bishops and your diocese and to enable creation of an atmosphere of reconciliation and forgiveness among people in both sides. To offer a hand of reconciliation was possible and necessary; the past, could not be, however, forgotten or changed, but conditions for the joint future should be created, Klein said. After elections and the expiry of the UNTAES mandate the key task of peaceful reintegration would ensue and that was the return of displaced persons and reconstruction, he added. Klein proposed that an umbrella organisation of societies of the displaced persons from both sides should be established in order that reconstruction of the Danubian area might be better and easily financed. Bishops and Klein also discussed future ecumenical activities and all prerequisites for the joint life. Transitional Administrator said that on Tuesday he would probably call elections for the Danubian area and ensure them under international standards. He added that an announced Serb referendum for the 6th of April had no significance. (hina) mš 091906 MET mar 97