BELGRADE: REFUGEES FORWARD OPEN LETTER TO MESIC

BELGRADE, July 4 (Hina) - Seven associations of refugees from Croatia active in Belgrade have forwarded an open letter to Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, saying that "if he wants Croatia's prosperity he should enable them to return to their homes", according to Tanjug agency. #L# "The return on a mass scale must and can happen, if life in Croatia is stronger than hatred," the refugees said in the letter and added that Croatia "would benefit from begging this people to come back and to pay each returnee EUR5,000 for start". The letter, also published by Belgrade's daily Glas Javnosti Friday, ends with an assessment that "good will was not demonstrated in Prime Minister Ivica Racan's recent call (to refugees to return)". "The call lacked every form of justice, political honesty and is not realistic," the daily cited the letter. (hina) it sb