AGREEMENT ON RETURN PROCEDURE RESOLUTION YET TO BE REACHED

( Editorial: --> 8419 ) ZAGREB, April 21 (Hina) - The Croatian National Parliament party benches on Tuesday failed to reach consensus on the text of the "Resolution on Procedures for Return of Persons Who Left the Republic of Croatia", which was proposed by the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) bench. The discussion on the Resolution will continue. The preamble of the Resolution, presented by Vladimir Seks and Drago Krpina (HDZ), recalls that the Serb aggression is the cause of the refugee crisis in Croatia and the fact that Croatia's defence was made more difficult because it was prevented from importing arms. It also recalls that during the liberation operations "Flash" and "Storm", President Tudjman called on Serbs to remain in Croatia. Given that they did not accept that invitation, "they alone put themselves in the position of optants", the Resolution read. The draft resolution highlights however that Croatia "never prevented and will not prevent" individual return of Serbs. The second part of the draft resolution commits the Croatian Government to securing all necessary prerequisites for individual return, along with a reminder that Serbs also do not want a mass return. Requests for a mass return are "partly motivated by attempts to create prerequisites for endangering Croatia's national security and destabilising Croatia in the future", the Resolution read. "Pressures on Croatia in regards to the return of Serbs are entirely unnecessary and unjustified and the Croatian National Parliament's House of Representatives rejects them," states the Resolution. It further suggests that the Government should propose a comprehensive return programme. The Liberal Party (LS) bench does not accept the draft because it does not agree with the assertions that the international community is seeking a mass return of Serbs, nor does it agree with the claim that the aim of the mentioned request for mass return is "endangerment of Croatian national security". The Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS) bench holds that the resolution is unnecessary. This party believes that parliament should only entrust the Government to confirm a comprehensive return programme as soon as possible and hand it to parliament for adoption. The HSLS also believes that a regulation from the draft should be accepted which suggests that the Government should increase efforts in seeking war reparations and completion of succession to the former Yugoslavia in cooperation with the international community. The benches of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) agreed with the musings of the HSLS, adding that the international community should also be asked for the possibility of return in all directions, as well as for financial assistance in that process. (hina) jn mrb/rm 211736 MET apr 98