WREATHS LAID AT ZADAR CEMETERY IN MEMORY OF SKABRNJA VICTIMS ( Editorial: --> 1693 )

( Editorial: --> 1693 ) ZADAR, 18 Nov (Hina) - Representatives of Zadar County, the city of Zadar, the municipality of Skabrnja (a village near Zadar) and numerous associations on Tuesday gathered at the Zadar cemetery to lay wreaths and pay respects to Skabrnja residents killed during the Serb occupation of the village six years ago. Labour and Welfare Minister Joso Skara laid a wreath on behalf of President Franjo Tudjman. Skara and parliamentary representative Julije Derossi laid a wreath together on behalf of Premier Zlatko Matesa. After the wreath-laying ceremony, the gathered held a commemorative meeting in the elementary school building in Skabrnja. The Skabrnja municipal head Zoran Gurlica recalled 18 November 1991, the day where the Serb occupiers entered the village and killed more than 40 civilians in one day. Next year, respects would be paid to Skabrnja victims at the reconstructed cemetery in the village, Gurlica said. Addressing the gathered, Labour Minister Skara said that the Skabrnja victims would never be forgotten. During the occupation of the village, the Serb aggressors killed 85 persons, mainly civilians. Another four residents were killed in mine explosions. (hina) rm 181356 MET nov 97