OSCE: THERE ARE NO MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN REFUGEE RETURN PROCESS

ZAGREB, Dec 8 (Hina) - The OSCE Mission in Croatia believes there have been no major changes for the better lately in the refugee return process, Mission spokesman Peter Palmer told a regular press conference, organised by the OSCE and UNHCR Missions, in Zagreb on Wednesday. This assessment, according to Palmer, was presented in a joint fifth monthly report by the OSCE and UNHCR Missions on the return programme, which was recently sent to the Croatian Government and which included detailed information on the implementation of the return programme on the local level. According to Palmer, despite minor improvements in some areas, there have been no significant changes in general. Some ambiguities in the programme continue to cause confusion on the local level, which results in its inconsistent implementation. The Government Office for Refugees and Displaced Persons has announced that local officials would in the future assume greater responsibility in solving problems encountered in some housing commissions, Palmer said. He also welcomed the ruling of the Supreme Court quashing the verdicts in the trial of the so-called "Sodolovci group", since the verdicts were based on the membership in Serb paramilitary units, i.e., on the principle of collective rather than individual guilt, and could be applied to tens of thousands of Serbs. Speaking about the Sub-Commission for Missing Persons in the Danube region, Palmer expressed belief that the recent inclusion of two Serbs in the commission would create an institutional basis for its more active operation in the future. Speaking about the joint report on the return, UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said facilitating multi-direction return required additional efforts in the return of Bosnian Croat refugees wishing to return to their homes. (hina) mm rml