ICRC PREPARES FOR ITS NEW ROLE IN E. SLAVONIA

OSIJEK, Jan 29 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian Government Office for the Establishment of Croatian Authority in eastern Croatia met representatives of the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Organisations on Monday in Osijek. Discussed was the involvement of the International Red Cross in the process of peaceful reintegration of eastern Croatia. Delegation head Sten Swenlund said he was waiting for an authorisation to open a Red Cross office in eastern Croatia. This office would cooperate with local Red Cross organisations and other humanitarian agencies. Croatian Government representatives asked the ICRC to protect Croats, Hungarians and other non-Serbs who are still living in the occupied areas. They suggested that the meetings of separated families take place in the Croatian towns of Osijek, Vukovar, Vinkovci and Beli Manastir instead of at a UN checkpoint between Nemetin and Sarvas. (hina) mm as 291923 MET jan 96