MEDIA ADVISORY

Two young Croatian land mine victims, whose visit to the United States has been made possible due to the efforts of a DePaul University instructor and her students, will arrive at O’Hare International Terminal No. 5, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Flight #166, at 3:50 p.m. on May 14.

After they are whisked through customs, Ivica Bagaric, 10, Marijana Knezevic, 18,and Ivica’s mother, Anda, will be greeted by an entourage from DePaul University. Twelve students from the university’s "Women and War" class, Natasa Jovicic, the adjunct professor who teaches the course; Elizabeth Kelly, director of the university’s Women Studies program and Thomas Mockaitis, chair of DePaul’s history department, will meet the visitors.

The youngsters are coming to the United States for medical treatment of their serious eye and foot injuries. Dr. Bernard Gawne, an opthalmologist on staff at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Ill., has arranged for Ivica and Marijana to be examined and treated at the hospital free of charge. He also will be at O’Hare to greet the patients when they arrive.

Students from Evanston High School also are expected to be on hand at O’Hare. The high school’s organization to ban the use of land mines raised money to meet some of the expenses the Croatian visitors will incur while in Chicago.

U.S. Customs does not have the space for the news media and the special visitors of the Croatian party to convene at the gate. However, an area has been designated for media questions. The area can be accessed by entering Terminal 5 from the parking lot. Go right, past "Exit Door A" and past the news shop and bar. Beyond that point is an arrival area that will have a podium.

News media who plan to cover the arrival of the Croatian youngsters should make prior arrangements with Roxanne Jahi of DePaul’s Media Relations Office by calling 312/362-8623. The flight usually arrives early, so please plan to arrive by 3:30 p.m. for press briefing.