CROAT RETURNEES TO VARES DEMAND THEIR FLATS BACK

VARES, Sept 14 (Hina) - President of the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina, Ivo Andric Luzanski held talks Tuesday with Croat displaced persons from the central Bosnian town of Vares who are being hindered from returning to their homes by local Bosniak (Moslem) authorities. Some hundred Croat flat owners protested in front of the municipal council in Vares Monday night and the protest continued Tuesday morning. "The rights of returnees are guaranteed by law, but local Bosniak authorities are an obstacle because they are not implementing the law," Luzanski said. Luzanski concurred with a reporter's assumption that such attitudes were influenced by recent statements made by the Bosniak member of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Alija Izetbegovic, calling on police and local authorities not to implement court decisions on evictions "if they are not fair". Luzanski expressed concern with Izetbegovic's stance, which was also denounced by the international community. "The statement was turned directly against return, in complete opposition to Izetbegovic's verbal claims," Luzanski said, adding "Had this statement been given by a representative of the Croat people in Bosnia-Herzegovina, it would have caused great condemnation and he would be threatened by resignation". (hina) lml jn