RETURN OF SERBS TO CROATIA IS A PRIORITY FOR USA

( Editorial: --> 9151 ) SARAJEVO, 3 Feb (Hina)- The return of the Serbs who have fled from Croatia to their homes is one of the key priorities for the USA, who expect from the Croatian Government to fulfill its promises regarding that issue,said the US Envoy for Implementation of the Dayton Accords Robert Gelbard in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Speaking at a press briefing during an international conference on the return of refugeess to Sarajevo, he said that Croatian president Franjo Tudjman had given clear guarantees to the US ambassador to the United Nations that the Serbs would be allowed to return. After pointing out that Croatia had great expectations regarding its integration into European mechanisms,Gelbard stressed that precisely for that reason it would be expected to fully conform with western standards regulating the treatment of refugees. Gelbard assessed that after reintegration of the Croatian Danube region there were no more obstacles to the return to all Croatian areas. (Hina) jn mr 031917 MET feb 98