MOSTAR, Oct 2 (Hina) - Republika Srpska president Dragan Cavic has said that the property of Croat and Muslim refugees from the Serb entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina will be returned before the end of this year or next year at the latest,
and that the pope's visit this year has significantly contributed to creating an atmosphere of tolerance in the entity.
MOSTAR, Oct 2 (Hina) - Republika Srpska president Dragan Cavic has
said that the property of Croat and Muslim refugees from the Serb
entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina will be returned before the end of
this year or next year at the latest, and that the pope's visit this
year has significantly contributed to creating an atmosphere of
tolerance in the entity. #L#
Cavic said this in an interview with the Italian Catholic daily
Avvenire, which was carried on Thursday by the Catholic press
agency based in Sarajevo.
"Republika Srpska is no longer an area of violence, rebellion and
war. The pope's pastoral visit to Banja Luka largely contributed to
this. His messages convinced people that it was possible to embark
upon a road of integration," Cavic said.
About 220,000 Croats were expelled from Serb-controlled Bosnia-
Herzegovina during the war and only a few thousand have returned.
Cavic said resolving the issue of refugees was also a requirement
for Bosnia-Herzegovina's entry into the European Union. He
expressed hope this would happen in 2010.
(hina) vm sb