TUDJMAN AND GRANIC SPEAK WITH OGATA ABOUT RETURN OF REFUGEES

( Editorial: --> 5253 ) ZAGREB, April 7 (Hina) - Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Tuesday received the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata, in separate talks. Ogata informed Tudjman that the aim of her visit was to inspect the possibilities of drafting a general strategy of the return of refugees, and get informed about negotiations between Croatia and Yugoslavia and between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina on the return of refugees, the President's Office said in a statement. Tudjman reiterated the Croatia was ready to solve the issue of the return of persons who had left Croatia on an individual basis, on a humanitarian basis, and warned of existing psychological obstacles. Ogata greeted the Croatian government's efforts in solving the problem of refugees. She said the issue of the return of refugees was a complex issue which could not be resolved immediately, but it was possible to overcome administrative obstacles, the statement said. Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic stressed the Croatian government's efforts in creating conditions for the return of all those who wanted to return. Their return must be harmonised with the reality on the field and undertaken international commitments, Granic said, stressing that the commitments assumed by Croatia were parallel to Croatian interests, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. Granic stressed that the revival of the housing fund and economy were the basic conditions for the safe return of refugees and displaced persons to the Croatian Danube river region, the statement said. (hina) lm jn 071611 MET apr 98