HOUSE OF COUNTIES SUPPORTS TWO-WAY RETURN REPORT

( Editorial: --> 8208 ) ZAGREB, April 20 (Hina) - The Croatian National Parliament's House of Counties, following a debate at Monday's session, supported with a majority vote the report on the realisation of the programme for two-way return and accommodation of displaced persons and refugees, with accent on requests by the international community. Ivan Marijanovic of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) holds that the report is transparent and shows all that the Croatian Government has undertaken in its aim to solve the humanitarian crisis caused by the aggression started by Serbia and a part of the Serb population with the assistance of the former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). He said war damage in Pakrac and Lipik, western Slavonia, is greater that the total means invested in reconstruction so far. The world community should financially assist in the return of displaced persons and reconstruction since it did not prevent the aggression, and not impose pressure on Croatia, said Ivan Novosel (HDZ). We have to be realistic in signing documents when pressures we are submitted to have an interest and economic background, believes Franjo Krizanic (HDZ). Zvonimir Novoselac (HDZ) judged that the requests for a fast return of all displaced Serbs and other citizens are unfounded. Those who make such requests do not take into account that the humanitarian crisis arose from the aggression on Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina and is the consequence of ethnic cleansing, he said. Conditions have not been created for the return of Croats to Republika Srpska, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, he pointed out Commenting on repeated statements on the mass return of Serbs, Vojislav Stanimirovic of the Independent Democratic Serb Party (SDSS), said a mass return phobia should not be created because it would not happen. Saying how many assert that the return of Serbs would destabilise Croatia he asked would Serbs have destabilised Croatia in they had remained on President Tudjman's invitation during the liberation action, Storm, in 1995. Miroslav Rozic of the Croatian Party of Rights said the two-way return does not exist. There is only a one-way return because the only people returning are Serbs, from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to Croatia, he said. He asked how many requests have been made for the return of Croats to Yugoslavia or Republika Srpska. Talking about the priorities of THE return, he said those people who were expelled from their homes should return first, then the people who fled in front of the danger of war, and finally individuals who voluntarily left their homes. Mato Simic (HDZ), also president of the Association of Displaced Croats, holds that slow reconstruction especially in the Croatian Danube River region, poor infrastructure and uncleared mines make the return of displaced Croats more difficult. He believes the Law on Amnesty and Law Adjustment Act will embitter the lives of returnees when they return to their houses. With that in mind he invited them to start actions against Serbs who they know committed wrongful acts. (hina) mrb/ha 202218 MET apr 98