UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES HOLDS TALKS WITH CRO PRESIDENT- EXTENDED

ZAGREB, March 17 (Hina) - After talks with Croatian President Stipe Mesic in Zagreb on Friday, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata said she was very encouraged by the determination of the Croatian President to solve the issue of refugees and take back all those who fled to Serbia or Bosnia- Herzegovina. The President expressed readiness to take back all those who fled to Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and solve the problem of displaced persons within the country, said Ogata after her first meeting with Mesic. "We are aware of the fact that there are numerous problems regarding accommodation, employment, and civilisational understanding," President Mesic said. Ogata, however, stressed the determination of the Croatian President was very encouraging. She said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) would give its full support for the international community to provide financial and other assistance to Croatia's efforts. Mesic said that Croatia, as a law-based state which desires to implement European standards, must ensure the return and guarantee safety to all of its citizens. Assessing that this was a complex problem, he pointed to the fact that Croats were unable to return to Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as to employment and other problems. We all have to work on this and Mrs Ogata pointed to the need to secure international assistance, Mesic said. Asked about the possibility of the UNHCR providing financial assistance for the expected increase of returns to Croatia, Ogata said the UNHCR would investigate that possibility if it was the specific precondition, however, she believed it was not the only issue. It is also about the return of Bosnian Croats to Bosnia-Herzegovina and about the return of Croatian Serbs from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia, Ogata said, adding those were very complex problems which surpassed the problem of accommodation and financial help. In order to solve financial problems in reintegrating its community and stimulate development, Croatia must turn to the international community, European Union, and a much wider audience for help. The UNHCR will support those requests as much as it can, Ogata said. (hina) it mm