REFUGEE ISSUE TO BE TREATED AS REGIONAL PROBLEM: DEPUTY HIGH REP

( Editorial: --> 8989 ) SARAJEVO, April 22 (Hina) - A conference on the return of refugees will take place in Banja Luka, north-western Bosnia, on April 28, the deputy High Representative for refugee issues, Andy Bearpark, told reporters in Sarajevo Thursday. We will analyse what is going on not only in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but in Croatia as well, in order to determine what has to be done to help all refugees return, Bearpark said. Croatian authorities will be asked to ensure all real possibilities for the reintegration of refugees, he said, referring in particular to documents regulating citizenship and ownership. The international community invited Yugoslav authorities to attend the conference as well, so that the refugee issue might be resolved thoroughly in the region. The authorities of Bosnia's two entities, the Croat-Muslim Federation and the Bosnian Serb republic, will also be asked to eliminate all obstacles to the refugee returns. This refers in particular to the ownership right and to this effect, the Bosnian Serb entity will be requested to pass the same property laws which are already in effect in the Croat-Muslim Federation. Bearpark emphasised that a lot had been done, but was disappointed with the implementation of conclusions reached at a February conference on return in Sarajevo. Sarajevo authorities had guaranteed that 10,000 people could be expected to return in the ensuing six months, he said. The Office of the international High Representative for Bosnia will control the allocation of flats to the returnees, Bearpark said. He pointed out the High Representative would not refrain from exercising his authority to replace any official judged to be uncooperative or obstructing the refugees' return. (hina) ha jn/mb 231732 MET apr 98