CRO. SERB OFFICIAL: REFUGEES SHOULD BE INCLUDED BY CENSUS

ZAGREB, March 5 (Hina) - The president of Croatia's Serb People's Council (SNV) believes Croatia's refugees living in Yugoslavia and Bosnia should be enabled to participate in the census Croatia is to hold on April 1-15. SNV's Milorad Pupovac told a news conference in Zagreb the representatives of the Serb community in Croatia had forwarded the State Bureau of Statistics and the Foreign Ministry a request that all refugees willing to participate in the census and have identity documents be included. Pupovac estimates there are some 250,000 Croatian refugees in Yugoslavia and between 40,000-50,000 in Bosnia some part of which, he said, have no identity documents. The impending census should be held in a stable atmosphere without threats. Representatives of the authorities have to convey the Serb community the message that stating their nationality will not have adverse effects, said Pupovac. Asked if the recent changing of street names in Donji Lapac supported that, he said it had been done in an extreme and non- critical fashion which took no heed of the fact that one-sided acts could not be imposed in mixed environments. Pupovac briefed the press about the first official visit of Croatian Serbs to Belgrade, namely talks with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, patriarch Pavle, and deputy prime ministers. It was said during those talks that in their foreign policy and inter-state activities, Yugoslavia and Serbia would support the efforts of the Croatian Serb community to consolidate itself as a national minority and integrate into Croatia's society. During talks with Kostunica, it was pointed out Yugoslavia was interested in continuing the normalisation of relations with Croatia, particularly in connection with refugee returns and minority rights. Yugoslavia is also willing to begin talks on an agreements on minorities with Croatia, said Pupovac. (hina) ha sb