VUKOVAR HVIDRA HOLD THIRD ANNUAL MEETING

ZAGREB, 20 Apr (Hina) - Members of Vukovar branch-office of the Association of Croatian Disabled Soldiers from Homeland War(HVIDRA) held today their third assembly treating as the main point on the agenda the problems of return to Vukovar and the status of displaced persons from eastern Slavonija. The participants observed a minute of silence for all those who gave their lives for the Croatian state. Opening the gathering, president of the Vukovar HVIDRA Milan Zanko recalled November '91 when Vukovar defenders and civilians were subjected to atrocious crimes. "To be displaced within your own country is the greatest humiliation a man could go through," said Zanko calling for an urgent changing of the status of displaced persons and of Vukovar's defenders. Speaking of the upcoming peaceful reintegration of Croatian Danubian area, Zanko stated this demanded from Croatians to accept a coexistence with their murderers, and that no one had ever asked their opinion on the issue. He repeated the requests of the displaced Vukovar dwellers to return to their homes gracefully, under the protection of the Croatian authority, army and police. Vukovar is the symbol of the creation of the Croatian state, while the Croatian volunteers and disabled homeland defenders are a criterion of the Croatian authority conscience, said deputy in the Parliament Bosiljko Misetic. He added that the Croatian state policy tries to implement the peaceful reintegration of the occupied area following international law standards, "but if that cannot be possible, we have an army and a police." President of the Association of Croatian Disabled Homeland Defenders, Tomislav Mercep accused the growing impression among the Croatian public that the war was over with the aim of putting the Vukovar displaced persons aside. The participants would send their conclusions to highest state bodies. (hina) jt 201716 MET apr 96