RADIC ANNOUNCES CANCELLATION OF STATUS OF DISPLACED PERSONS

ZAGREB, June 16 (Hina) - We shall propose soon to the Croatian Government to cancel the status of displaced persons for the displaced from the areas where the reconstruction is over and where basic conditions for the return have been created, the Reconstruction and Development Minister, Jure Radic has said. Radic said at Monday's regular press briefing held by the Government that this referred to almost all villages in Dalmatia, to a considerable part of Banovina, Kordun and western Slavonia (Croatian areas formerly under the Serb occupation). In connection with the return to the Croatian Danube area, Radic said the it had begun in recent days. He added that representatives of newly-elected authorities in the Danube area had to do their best to help revive each segment of the authority constituted following April's local election. "We are thankful to UNTAES for everything it has done so far, and it has really done much, but now it becomes a hindrance to further process of peaceful reintegration," the Croatian minister said. He added that it would be no good extending the UNTAES mandate in its current form. "We urge that this mandate should assume more a monitoring role, and the rest should proceed through legal institutions of the authority," he told reporters. (hina) jn mš 161428 MET jun 97