BISHOPS APPEAL FOR PROTECTION OF DISPLACED PERSONS' HUMAN RIGHTS

ZAGREB, Jan 23 (Hina) - The Croatian Bishops' Conference on Wednesday called on the government and MPs to decide against transferring displaced persons into refugee settlements. In an appeal for the protection of displaced persons' human rights, sent to Hina, the bishops remind the parliament is currently discussing amendments to the Law on Areas of Special State Concern, which should regulate the issue of private property given to displaced persons and refugees for temporary use. The bishops also warn that Article 12 of the bill envisages the possibility of temporary, collective accommodation in refugee settlements. The bishops urge the government and parliament to turn down the amendments as the transfer to collective refugee settlements, many years after the war, would "dramatically worsen the already difficult situation of these people." "The state has to make maximum efforts to secure permanent accommodation and the possibility to acquire property for those who cannot or do not want to return to the places they were expelled from. We find it difficult to believe that the bill is in line with criteria which are 'applied at the level of the European Union', which has been used as an explanation for the amendments," the bishops said. (hina) np sb