SADAKO OGATA TO ARRIVE IN ZAGREB LATER THIS WEEK

ZAGREB, June 1 (Hina) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata will visit Croatia later this and early next week, the UNHCR office in Zagreb reported on Tuesday. Ogata will be received by Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and other high ranking officials. During talks with government officials, Ogata will point to the necessity of pursuing with the implementation of post-Dayton peace agreement solutions for the return of refugees, UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic told reporters. He said Ogata will also praise the establishment of an observer group for the Kosovo crisis and the government's decision to accept 5,000 people as part of a refugee evacuation from Macedonia programme. The first plane with some 100 refugees arrived in Zagreb today. Ogata will arrive in Zagreb on Saturday, while on Sunday she will visit the Sisak area, where she will meet Foreign Minister Mate Granic, Mahecic said. On Monday, Ogata will be received by President Tudjman and Premier Zlatko Matesa, and will hold another meeting with Granic. She will speak to reporters on Tuesday, before leaving Zagreb. Mahecic today also spoke about a session of the Return Coordination Committee held last Friday. It was pointed out at the session it is necessary to intensify efforts for the refugee return to Bosnia, especially to the Bosnian Serb entity. The International Community is trying to support this process by making donations to reconstruction funds, and would appreciate Croatian government support in convincing people whose houses have been reconstructed in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BH) to return, Mahecic said. He reminded of valid procedures for the return of property in BH, and pointed out June 19 was the deadline for submitting requests for property recognition in the Bosnian Serb entity. Speaking about the work of housing commissions in Croatia, which are in charge of providing accommodation to returnees, the UNHCR spokesman said there are currently 3,000 people who have registered for returning to pre-war homes, but cannot do so because the houses are either occupied or damaged. Mahecic called on higher efficiency in the implementation of housing commissions' decisions, especially relating to evictions and finding alternative accommodation. Speaking of the reconstruction programme and public remarks to it, Mahecic said no progress has been made at all. He welcomed an agreement reached at the Return Coordination Committee aimed to improve communication via weekly meetings between Reconstruction Ministry and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe representatives. (hina) ha