ELIZABETH REHN HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, 7 June (Hina) - U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in former Yugoslavia, Elizabeth Rehn, on Saturday held a press conference in Zagreb. During her stay in the region of former Yugoslavia, Rehn visited the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Vukovar (Croatian Danubian area). On Sunday, Rehn will leave for Okucani, western Slavonia. She is also to visit Banja Luka and Sarajevo. The U.N. Special Rapporteur stressed the problem of return of displaced people, adding she had a meeting with representatives of Serb and Croat refugees in Bilje, eastern Slavonia. The meeting was of historical importance, Rehn said, adding it would not have been possible a year ago. It was important to intensify efforts so that Serb refugees could return to their homes since it was the only way to secure the return of Croat refugees to the Croatian Danubian area, Rehn said, adding she had conveyed the message to President Franjo Tudjman and Croatian government representatives. Local officials, members of non-government organisations and religious leaders also had to participate in the implementation of return programs, she said. On Saturday, Rehn met the representatives of three religious communities in Croatia - the Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, the head of the Islamic community, Sefko Omerbasic, and the head of the Serb Orthodox church, Metropolitan of Zagreb and Ljubljana, Jovan. The situation in some towns in Croatia was very good, Rehn said, stressing the example of Pakrac, western Slavonia, where the atmosphere was very good and where there was no violence. A negative example was the case of Okucani, western Slavonia, Rehn said, adding she would visit the town on Sunday and talk to local officials. Rehn condemned last Thursday's attack on presidential candidate Vlado Gotovac. At the end of the press conference, Rehn said she would visit the area of former Yugoslavia again this autumn. (hina) rm 072122 MET jun 97