NATO SUBCOMMITTEE AND PARLIAMENT REPS DISCUSS REFUGEE RETURN

ZAGREB, May 4 (Hina) - Representatives of NATO Parliamentary Assembly's subcommittee for cooperation East-West on Thursday held talks with representatives of the Croatian National Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on the return of refugees and establishment of peace and stability of the region. Committee chairman Zdravko Tomac stressed the main solution to the problem of the region was the maintenance of Bosnia-Herzegovina as a unified and democratic state completely included in Euro- Atlantic associations. As the first step towards this he accentuated the return of Croats and Bosniaks (Moslems) to the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska, the Parliament's Public Relations Service said Thursday. Tomac noted psychological obstacles to solving the return issue, stressed it was a result of ignoring crimes which happened in Croatia in 1991. Representatives of the NATO subcommittee wished to know whether the new Croatian Government would enjoy the support of its citizens in its endeavours regarding the return of refugees. Committee member Ivo Skrabalo said problems would occur if international results of the new Croatian policy are not evident, including monetary support to Croatia. It was concluded that a stable and European Croatia would be an example to Balkan states and proof that democracy paid off. The NATO subcommittee representatives afterwards held a meeting with representatives of the Croatian parliament House of Representatives' Committee for Finances and Government Budget. (hina) lml jn