ZAGREB, Feb 26 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic on Saturday received the Roman Catholic Bishop of Banja Luka (north-western Bosnia), Msgr. Franjo Komarica. Their talks revolved around the return of refugees, particularly the
return of exiled people to the Diocese of Banja Luka (most parts of which are now in the Republic of Srpska, namely the Bosnian Serb entity).
ZAGREB, Feb 26 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic on
Saturday received the Roman Catholic Bishop of Banja Luka (north-
western Bosnia), Msgr. Franjo Komarica.
Their talks revolved around the return of refugees, particularly
the return of exiled people to the Diocese of Banja Luka (most parts
of which are now in the Republic of Srpska, namely the Bosnian Serb
entity).#L#
After the closed meeting the Catholic dignitary told reporters that
they had agreed that this spring all relevant factors should
undertake efforts to enable everybody, who was unjustly deprived of
their fundamental human rights in recent years, to begin exercise
basic rights and freedoms.
"I am deeply sure that President Mesic will meet his promises
concerning the return of citizens of the Republic of Croatia and
those who happen to be in Croatia but their centuries-long homes
have been in other areas," Bishop Komarica said.
Expressing hope that very soon "positive moves will be made in the
return", he stressed that it should be made possible for all
returnees to have living conditions worth of man.
"We have clearly concluded that people have the right to come back
to their homes, as refugees are only victims and they are not guilty
of the war," Croatian President Mesic told reporters.
Mesic said Croats in the Banja Luka area had not incurred
displeasure of anybody and they should return to their homes.
"We should conduct a policy aimed at their return and their
organised return. The world must assist us financially, but also in
the security field," the Croatian president said adding that Zagreb
would do its best concerning this matter.
Mesic announced his official visit to Sarajevo in the end of March,
and he is also planning to visit Banja Luka.
He congratulated Banja Luka Bishop Komarica on all efforts he and
the Catholic Church had been taking to help Croats and other
refugees to return to their homes. "You have shown that you could
survive in the hardest times," Mesic added.
(hina) ms