UNICEF REPS HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE IN ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 4156 ) ZAGREB, 27 Nov (Hina) - The head of UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) Office in Croatia, Ute Deseniss-Gross, and secretary of the Association of Croatian Societies 'Nasa djeca', Emil Paravina, on Thursday held a press conference in Zagreb, at which they spoke about the traditional humanitarian action of sale of UNICEF Christmas and New Year cards in Croatia. The sale of UNICEF cards plays a very important role in the overall humanitarian work of UNICEF, said Ute Deseniss-Gross. The first UNICEF greeting card was drawn in 1949 by seven-year-old Jitke Samkova from Czechoslovakia. The project of sale of greeting cards "Greeting Card Operation" was officially started in 1951. The humanitarian purpose of UNICEF cards is supported by the fact that 75% of nett income from the sale of greeting cards is intended for children aid projects in Croatia. The Association of Societies "Our Children" was entrusted with the distribution and sale of greeting cards and other UNICEF products, Paravina said, calling on buyers to help the children of Croatia by buying UNICEF greeting cards and other products. Speaking about UNICEF programs in Croatia, Deseniss-Gross said UNICEF was cooperating with the Croatian Government in programs of child health care, nutrition, education, the improvement of the quality of life, representation and social engagement and, in one of the most important UNICEF programs in Croatia - the program of psychological help to children traumatised by war. (hina) rm 271511 MET nov 97