JELAVIC VISITS BANJA LUKA, DISCUSSES RETURN OF REFUGEES

SARAJEVO/BANJA LUKA, July 16 (Hina) - The chairman of Bosnia- Herzegovina's three-man Presidency, Ante Jelavic, on Friday conducted an official visit to the north-western Bosnian town of Banja Luka where he met officials of the Republic of Srpska and Roman Catholic Bishop of Banja Luka, Franjo Komarica, local media said. According to Jelavic, the talks revolved around preparations for holding the summit of the Stability Pact in Southeast Europe, conditions which Bosnia must meet to enter the Council of Europe as well as around the return of refugees. "I hope that Jelavic's visit to Banja Luka will be a milestone in the life of local people, particularly of Croats," Bishop Komarica said after his talks with Jelavic who is the Croat member in the Bosnian Presidency. The Catholic dignitary voiced confidence that today's talks would contribute to better relations between all three nations who live in this part of Bosnia. On this occasion Jelavic reiterated that he absolutely supported the return of refugees and displaced people to all parts of Bosnia, adding that it was unacceptable to speak about any conditioning of the process of return or about setting up the reciprocity as a criterion. The Croat side gave strong stimulation to the return of Serb displaced persons and refugees in cantons within the (Croat- Moslem) Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina where Croats are a majority. The time comes when we can talk about all open issues and I think it is an important turning point, Jelavic said. Bosnian Serb member of the Presidency, Zivko Radisic, who was also one of Jelavic's hosts in Banja Luka, said that his meeting with Jelavic tackled also the issue of the return of Serbs who fled Croatia. (hina) ms