BOSNIAN FEDERATION PRESIDENT VISITS BUGOJNO

BUGOJNO, Jan 21 (Hina) - A delegation of the Bosnian Federation and the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BH) on Thursday visited the central Bosnian town of Bugojno, where they held talks with political, public, cultural, and religious dignitaries. The delegation, headed by federal President Ivo Andric Luzanski, was especially interested in the return of displaced Croats, the reconstruction of demolished houses, and the security and political situation. Luzanski assessed Croats were returning to Bugojno because of their political will to do so. He stressed it was necessary to create security conditions for an undisturbed return of the displaced and refugees, and to ensure material conditions for the returnees. According to official data, prior to the recent war, 7,000 out of 17,000 Croat residents in the municipality were employed, now there are only 120. Today's talks pointed to the dissatisfaction with the performance of the Municipal Council to date, and in particular with the participation of HDZ BH representatives in the council and other bodies of authority. It was pointed out reconstruction was slow. Due to the limited aid from donors, the most damaged houses are not reconstructed at all given high costs. Out of 3,550 destroyed housing units owned by Croats, 1,860 are in the most damaged category. The Bugojno officials appealed to Luzanski to urge action aimed at shedding light on the fate of 21 Bugojno Croat abducted in 1993. (hina) ha