CROATIA TO ADAPT LEGISLATION TO TWO-WAY RETURN

( Editorial: --> 6902 ) ZAGREB, 3 Mar (Hina) - Deputy Prime Minister Ljerka Mintas-Hodak on Tuesday discussed the Croatian Government's new steps for streamlining the two-way return of refugees and displaced people to and from the Danube region with the head of the OSCE mission in Croatia Tim Guldimann. The meeting took place after the international community repeatedly criticised Croatia for a lack of progress in the programme of two-way return. After the meeting Mintas-Hodak told the press Croatia would change its legislation in accordance with the exigencies of the "two-way return" and "final normalisation of all aspects of life in all regions". "I am talking here about adaptation of the legislation to the needs of a successful two-way return of everyone to their home and about annulment of some decrees and laws that have been proved unnecessary by reality and legal practice," she said. "We are dealing here with laws and activities that are being prepared and carried out," the Deputy PM said in answer to a qeuestion about her present activities. She added that new measures by the Croatian Government would be announced on Thursday. Tim Guldimann said he believed that the new measures that would be taken by Croatia were "steps in the right direction". He said he hoped that new steps would be taken in the next two to three weeks so that some critical assessments that had been made during the last few days could be changed. Guldimann announced he was going to London on Wednesday and then to Bonn, for talks on the EU's stand vis a vis Croatia. (Hina) jn mr /mb 032041 MET mar 98