GOVT ADOPTS PROCEDURE FOR RETURN OF PERSONS WHO LEFT CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 9947 ) ZAGREB, April 27 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Monday adopted a document on the procedure of return of Serbs who left Croatia during and after Croatian Army liberation operations in 1995. The document, entitled "The Procedure For Individual Return of Persons Who Left the Republic of Croatia", explains the procedure for acquiring citizenship and individual return of people who left Croatia of their own accord, the Government communications office said in a statement. The document was adopted at a session held behind closed doors and chaired by Premier Zlatko Matesa. The Government further states that the document was adopted in line with the conclusions of the Croatian National Parliament of 24 April 1998, when Parliament adopted the Government's Report on the Programme of Two-Way Return and Care for Refugees and Displaced People and entrusted the Government with adopting the programme as soon as possible. Parliament also entrusted the Government with providing state bodies guidelines for the implementation of the procedure of return of displaced people and refugees. The document adopted today is based on the Constitution, relevant regulations and accepted international agreements. It is in line with principles agreed on between Croatia and representatives of the United States, European Union, the Russian Federation and international associations, the Government said. The return of people who want to return will be organised in line with the Programme on Return and Care for Displaced People and Refugees, to be prepared by the Government and adopted by Parliament. The Government will propose that Parliament adopts the Programme, at the latest, two days before the international conference on reconstruction and development of Croatia, scheduled for mid May. For that purpose, the Government has pledged the ministries of foreign and interior affairs and the ministries of administration and reconstruction and development, as well as the Office for Displaced People and Refugees, to carry out preparations for the adoption and implementation of the said programme. The document adopted today also recalls government decisions on annulment of the Regulation on the Renting of Flats in the Croatian Danube River region and regulations concerning the implementation of the Law Adjustment Act. (hina) rm/mrb , 272215 MET apr 98