CRO CONSUL WORRIED ABOUT EXODUS OF CROAT REFUGEES FROM DRVAR

MOSTAR/DRVAR, March 16 (Hina) - Croatia's consul-general to the Bosnian Serb capital of Banja Luka, Boris Belanic, has voiced concern with the announced arrival of Bosnian Croat refugees from the western town of Drvar in Croatia. The Croat refugees, mostly from central Bosnia, are leaving the town as they are being evicted from the flats they moved in during the war, Radio Herceg-Bosna from Mostar reported on Saturday. According to the same source, Belanic visited Drvar yesterday and met with municipal officials, Croat refugees and staff from the local office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Belanic said that the Croatian government would try to help the refugees wishing to find permanent accommodation in Croatia. Croat representatives in the municipal authorities told the consul the Serb authorities and some international representatives were exerting enormous pressure on the local Croats to leave Drvar. The Serb municipal officials claim there is a lack of alternative accommodation for Croats who have to leave the property of Serb returnees. Croats from more than 26 Bosnian municipalities found accommodation in Drvar during the war. They either cannot or do not want to return to their per-war homes in the now majority Bosniak and Serb parts of the country. (hina) rml