REFUGEES MUST BE ENABLED TO RETURN IN LARGE NUMBERS - PETRITSCH

TUZLA, April 26 (Hina) - Enabling a mass return of refugees, strengthening state institutions, and implementing economic reform in the whole country are the most important tasks which have to be carried out in Bosnia-Herzegovina this year, High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina Wolfgang Petritsch told reporters in the northern Bosnian town of Tuzla on Wednesday. Petritsch said he would point out those issues at an international conference on peace in Bosnia, to be held in Brussels at the end of May. He said the financial assistance the authorities of the Bosnian Serb entity were providing for Croat and Bosniak returnees was still far from satisfactory, however, it had been significantly increased since the appointment of Milorad Dodik as Republika Srpska Prime Minister. The High Representative said the poor economic situation in the whole country hampered the return of refugees. Petritsch expressed satisfaction with the work of the Tuzla Canton judiciary of lately, stressing the importance of an independent judiciary for the economic recovery of the country. The international community attaches special importance to freedom of movement and media freedom in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This is the backbone of the country's development and a key factor in its drawing closer to Europe, Petritsch said. After meeting canton officials, the High Representative also held talks with the leaders of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) behind closed doors. (hina) rml