SCHUMACHER HOLDS TALKS WITH MOSTAR'S MAYOR AND DEPUTY MAYOR

( Editorial: --> 0164 ) MOSTAR, Feb 7 (Hina) - Deputy to the International High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hans Schumacher, on Saturday held talks with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mostar, Safet Orucevic and Ivan Prskalo. Schumacher said after the meeting that the international community would do everything to prevent the division of Mostar. The time has come to undertake concrete action, he said. Schumacher announced the establishment of a contact group which would suggest to Prskalo and Orucevic a way to begin with immediate return of displaced persons and refugees, adding that he advocated a reciprocal return. Prskalo said he did not agree with the reciprocal return to Mostar. Such a model "does not coincide with the current situation in Mostar and the living arrangement of Croats and Bosniacs in the town". He recalled that there was a much larger number of Bosniacs in western Mostar than Croats in the eastern part of the town. Prskalo also warned that large amounts of private property in eastern Mostar owned by Croats had to be taken into consideration. Schumacher announced that a group of representatives from the Mostar office of the High representative, OSCE representatives and representatives of local county authorities would visit municipalities in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton next week. Their aim is to help with the completion of the canton plan for the return of displaced persons and refugees as soon as possible. The canton government should adopt the plan by the end of the month at the latest. (hina) lm 071553 MET feb 98