UNHCR WANTS TO SPEED UP RETURN TO BANJA LUKA AREA

( Editorial: --> 8427 ) MOSTAR, April 21 (Hina) - This year's second conference on the return of refugees will be held in Banja Luka, in the Bosnian Serb entity, on April 28, UNHCR spokesman Ariane Quentier said in Mostar on Tuesday. The Banja Luka conference, like the previous one in Sarajevo, should in its final declaration confirm the unconditional right to return, along with the request for the removal of all obstacles to return to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, Quentier told a press conference. The UNHCR wants to prompt Yugoslavia to speed up the return of refugees to their pre-war homes, and to secure a more massive return of people who fled to Republika Srpska and the Croat-Muslim Federation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The UNHCR also wants a reform of legislation concerning the return of refugees. One of this year's aims of the UNHCR is a speedier return to the Banja Luka area and the re-establishment of a multi-ethnic society. The Banja Luka conference will be attended by representatives from Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Yugoslavia as well as religious communities and refugee organisations, and ambassadors of the administrative board of the Peace Implementation Council. The conference will be co-chaired by the international High Representative and a special UNHCR envoy. (hina) jn rm /mb 211754 MET apr 98