MPS GET A COORDINATED TEXT ON THE RETURN TO CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 7285 ) ZAGREB, April 16 (Hina) - A document on the return of people who had left Croatia, which was presented by the Government on March 31 and subsequently amended and coordinated with members of the international community, was distributed to Croatian MPs on Thursday. Foreign Minister Mate Granic told Hina the Government expected that the Parliament would consider and endorse the document, as part of its debate on the two-way return process. Granic reiterated the Government was consulting the international community about two-way return, adding that the text that had been distributed today sprang from those consultations. The document guarantees the right of all Croatian citizens to return to Croatia. It prescribes a more detailed, clearer, simpler and a more transparent procedure for the issuing of Croatian documents, Granic explained. The document is not a return plan. However, Croatia will pass a return plan, in cooperation with the UNHCR and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The plan will take into account the situation on the ground. The present text of the procedure for return to Croatia follows the same principles as the first draft, but it somewhat facilitates and streamlines the procedure for the issuing of necessary documents. The document proves that "all Croatian citizens can return to Croatia, under the conditions enshrined in the Croatian Constitution". It also specifies that "persons who have left Croatia and are identified by this procedure as Croatian citizens, will be allowed to return to Croatia on an individual basis". The document further prescribes that people wishing to return should submit requests on official forms at authorised Croatian diplomatic or consular offices and identify themselves by relevant documentation. That provision was also contained in the first draft. However, this draft streamlines the procedure by prescribing that the authorised Croatian diplomatic or consular office must send the request straight to the Ministry of Administration when certain that the applicant is a Croatian citizen. The Ministry will in turn return a citizenship certificate to the office within three months. Once it receives the certificate the office will "immediately" provide the applicant with a travel document enabling him to return to Croatia within 30 days. If the documents supplied with the return request do not clearly identify the applicant as a Croatian citizen, his identity will be vetted by the Interior Ministry in no more than three months. All the applicants who receive clearance will be "immediately" entitled to a travel document. The others will receive a citation and be informed about their right to appeal. Once he returns to Croatia, the returnee will immediately be able to obtain other documents regulating his returnee status. On top of that, potential returnees will be spared fees for vetting of the citizenship documents and customs and import tariffs incurred during return. The present text of the return document binds the Government to different deadlines from the previous ones. Thus now the Government must draft a comprehensive return programme "no later than two days before the conference on Croatia's reconstruction and development". The programme should not "obstruct the ... right of Croatian citizens to return to Croatia". (Hina) mm mr /mb 161941 MET apr 98