CROATIAN VICE PREMIER KOSTOVIC RECEIVES U.S. AMBASSADOR GALBRAITH

ZAGREB, March 12 (Hina) - A Croatian Vice Premier, Ivica Kostovic, and U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, Peter Galbraith, on Wednesday talked about the process of peaceful reintegration of the Croatian Danubian area and the return of refugees to the area. According to Kostovic, Ambassador Galbraith showed interest in a package of measures, which Croatian Reconstruction and Development Ministry is preparing and which will also include a possibility of reconstruction of houses for the Serb population and their return. The Croatian official added that by this package, the Serb population might exercise the rights which other Croatian citizens had. "I have notified Ambassador Galbraith that the package of measure will be preliminarily presented at a conference of donors in Zagreb on Friday, but we will still work on it in cooperation with UNTAES and UNHCR," Kostovic said. I expressed support of the United States to the plan for the return of refugees. On that occasion I stressed that it was a key thing that all citizens, regardless of whether they are Croatians or Serbs, had to be treated in the same way, Galbraith said after the meeting. They should have the equal right to repair their homes and equal access to means for the reconstruction, U.S. Ambassador added. (hina) mm mš 121607 MET mar 97