REFUGEES FROM POSAVINA WANT TO RETURN TO THEIR HOMES

ZAGREB, 7 July (Hina) - Representatives of an association of refugees from the northern Bosnian region of Posavina on Wednesday held a news conference on talks with Serb authorities and international representatives, held recently in Doboj and Derventa, towns in the Bosnian Serb entity. We want to return as loyal citizens, we want to respect the laws of Bosnia-Herzegovina, but we also want to live safely, said the association's president Mate Gogic, calling for the establishment of mixed police forces and division of authority, as well as for property repossession. Gogic said the association had requested financial help from the international community for the return, and stressed the need of preventing further destruction of refugees' property in the Posavina region. Serb representatives did not demonstrate in any way that they opposed the return of Croats to the region, but they pointed to technical problems in the return process, it was said at the conference. Gogic informed that a UNHCR representative from Zagreb, Neda Radic, had stated during the talks that the UNHCR was willing to help if the Serb authorities created conditions for the return. Gogic emphasised that the Croatian and Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities have demonstrated a complete lack of care for Posavina refugees. (hina) rml