NIJEMCI VILLAGERS CELEBRATE ST. CATHERINE

NIJEMCI, Nov 25 (Hina) - Residents of the eastern Croatian village of Nijemci, celebrated the holiday of their patron saint, St. Catherine, in their village for the first time after five years in exile. The U.N. Transitional Administration in the Croatian Danubian area (UNTAES) handed over Nijemci and other four villages in southern Croatian Danubian area to Croatian authority on November 1 this year. The celebration of St. Catherine was attended by Croatia's high-ranking officials, including the deputy of President's chief- of-staff, Vesna Skare-Ozbolt, the head of the Croatian office for the establishment of the Croatian authority in the area in question, Ivica Vrkic, as well as Vukovar-Sirmium County officials, including Prefect Vlado Osust. Roman Catholic Bishop of Djakovo-Sirmium, Msgr. Ciril Kos, said a solemn mass, and baptized three children. Vesna-Skare Ozbolt opened ceremonially the renovated municipal office. (hina) jn mš 252052 MET nov 96