CROATS & BOSNIAKS IN MOSTAR DID NOT SIGN TWO-WAY RETURN AGREEMENT

( Editorial: --> 8368 ) MOSTAR, March 9 (Hina) - The Deputy High Representative of the international community in Bosnia-Herzegovina Hans Schumacher held talks in Mostar on Monday with leaders of the Herzegovina- Neretva Canton and the city of Mostar about the two-way return of Croats and Bosniaks (Muslims). The Mostar mayor Safet Orucevic accepted a proposal regarding the return but his Croat deputy Ivan Prskalo did not. According to the agreement put together by the Office of the High Representative in Sarajevo, the first phase envisages the return of 100 Croat families to the eastern part of Mostar and 30 Bosniak families to the western part. Following the meeting Schumacher said that he was disappointed that the suggested agreement was not signed at today's meeting, assessing that it is "entirely clear that in the Croatian Democratic Union of B-H some verbally support the Dayton peace agreement" but do not implement it. He said that a member of the B-H Presidency Kresimir Zubak and the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Prefect Zeljko Obradovic personally supported the Mostar return project. The deputy mayor Ivan Prskalo said that the return agreement does not guarantee Croats safe return to that part of the city under Bosniak control. According to that agreement Croats would return to the city outskirts which have majority Bosniak neighbourhoods, and Bosniaks would return to the city centre, which Prskalo considers unacceptable. Prskalo said that at the meeting with Schumacher he suggested an agreement which would firstly see the return of 100 Croat families and then 30 Bosniak families, which for Croats would be a sign that return is safe. Hans Schumacher and Safet Orucevic did not accept that proposal. (hina) mm mrb/as 092119 MET mar 98