RECONSTRUCTION MINISTER RECEIVES REPS OF "APEL"

( Editorial: --> 6819 ) ZAGREB, Dec 8 (Hina) - Croatian development and reconstruction minister Jure Radic on Monday received representatives of Apel, an association for the protection of rights of families of killed and missing Croatian defenders. According to Apel president Zdenka Farkas, 1,197 families of killed, detained and missing Croatian defenders were to be given flats, in line with legal provisions. For many, the housing issue had not been resolved, Farkas said. Some were given a different place of residence without their knowledge and should as a result get flats at their place of residence of 1991, she added. Most of these families were from Vukovar and the Danube river region of eastern Croatia. They want to return, Farkas said, adding many would like to resolve their housing issue elsewhere. The representatives of Apel asked of minister Radic to help the families receive flats in places of their wishes. Close to 200 flats in Vukovar would be completed by year's end, Radic said, adding that the families of killed, missing and detained defenders would have precedence to move in. As regarded families who wanted to reside in places other than those in 1991, Radic said this issue was not under competence of the development and reconstruction ministry. More than 2,000 flats are currently under construction, he said. (hina) ha jn 082017 MET dec 97