UNHCR:63,725 SERBS HAVE SO FAR RETURNED TO CROATIA

ZAGREB, Oct 27 (Hina) - According to the UNHCR mission in Croatia, 63,725 Serbs have returned to Croatia to date. This refers to returns inside the country as well as to come-backs from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), Bosnia-Herzegovina and other countries, UNHCR mission spokesman Andrej Mahecic told reporters on Wednesday. Out of this number, there have been 28,806 people who have returned from one place in Croatia to their previous places of residence in this country, while 34,419 have been returns from the FRY, Bosnia and other countries. At the same time, 43,224 Croat displaced persons have come back to the Croatian Danube River Area, Mahecic added. This is the latest explanation of the exact number of Serb returnees, Mahecic said responding to some doubts which have recently appeared in the press. The UNHCR spokesman said this mission, along with other organisations, has been helping Bosnian refugees (in Croatia) to visit cemeteries and graveyards in their hometowns and villages on All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. So far, 26 tours have been announced for the period between 31 October and 4 November. Of it, 22 organised visits will be in the Bosnian Serb entity (the Republic of Srpska) and four in the other entity (Croat-Moslem Federation). In this way, over 2,200 persons, currently staying in Croatia, will visit their hometowns and villages on the forthcoming holy days. (hina) jn ms