ZAGREB, Nov 3 (Hina) - The decision to return or stay is the right of every individual, Croatian parliamentary speaker Zlatko Tomcic said on Friday during a meeting with a delegation of the Knin-based Community of Immigrants and
Settlers of Croatia. Everyone who chooses to stay in Croatia is welcome, and those who decide to return to their former place of residence will be supported, he said. Tomcic welcomed the immigrants' and settlers' intention to get better organised, and accepted an invitation to attend a community convention early in December. The delegation produced data of a poll indicating that 97 percent of immigrants, from all parts of the Yugoslav federation, wanted to stay in Croatia. People should not be returned to where they do not want to live, said the delegation. It also drew attention to the many problems immigrants encounter, primarily those from Bosnia and Herzegovina. These
ZAGREB, Nov 3 (Hina) - The decision to return or stay is the right of
every individual, Croatian parliamentary speaker Zlatko Tomcic
said on Friday during a meeting with a delegation of the Knin-based
Community of Immigrants and Settlers of Croatia.
Everyone who chooses to stay in Croatia is welcome, and those who
decide to return to their former place of residence will be
supported, he said.
Tomcic welcomed the immigrants' and settlers' intention to get
better organised, and accepted an invitation to attend a community
convention early in December.
The delegation produced data of a poll indicating that 97 percent of
immigrants, from all parts of the Yugoslav federation, wanted to
stay in Croatia. People should not be returned to where they do not
want to live, said the delegation.
It also drew attention to the many problems immigrants encounter,
primarily those from Bosnia and Herzegovina. These include housing
and pension problems, or the unresolved issue of disabled veterans
and civilian victims of war.
The community objects to multiple occupancies, and is also
concerned about unacceptable instances of people evicted from Serb
houses without being provided with alternate accommodation. The
delegation suggested the Croatian government should become
involved in clearing the property relations of immigrants in
Bosnia.
The delegation also pointed to instances of arbitrariness on the
part of some municipal heads in settling housing issues. It said the
municipal head in Donji Lapac was trying to settle the issues
without a housing commission.
The delegation also drew attention to the positive effects of a
joint statement they signed with representatives of a Serb
returnees' community. It said the statement helped stabilise the
situation on the ground, dialogue and tolerance, as confirmed by
the exceptional security in the central town of Knin.
(hina) ha jn