CONFERENCE ON RETURN OF REFUGEES CLOSES IN BANJA LUKA

( Editorial: --> 0246/0199 ) BANJA LUKA, April 28 (Hina) - A regional conference on the return of refugees closed in Banja Luka on Tuesday afternoon with an extensive statement, which stressed that conditions for a secure and dignified return to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia needed to be fully established this year. The ten-page statement stressed that in the light of economic renewal and expectations of European integration, separatist policies obstructing return were inappropriate more than ever. It emphasised all governments should be aware that their contribution to the final creation of conditions for return would determine the stance of the international community towards them and their chances of taking part in the process of European integration. The statement elaborates on the problems of return from all directions in both entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Croatia, elaborating legal, social and administrative aspects of the problems and setting deadlines for concrete work which individual governments needed to do. The statement called on all entity, cantonal and municipal authorities to give their support for spontaneous and organised returns and to end the continued hostile shifting of groups of displaced people. It also emphasised the need for return to begin in the Bosnian Serb republic immediately. That entity needed to by the end of May stipulate concrete locations for a large number of returns. In the statement, it is stressed how urgent efforts are needed to ease the return of 40,000 to 50,000 Croatian Serbs taking refuge in the Bosnian Serb entity. It assessed how the "Procedure for the Individual Return of Persons Who Have Abandoned Croatia" which was adopted by the Croatian Government on Monday was not acceptable for the international community and was not simple nor feasible. It also stressed how the Croatian Government needed to enable the return to Bosnia of 40,000 registered refugees from BH. The statement continues to set precisely, with deadlines, legislative and promotional commitments of both entities which should make multi-directional return easier, as well as the necessity for establishing multi-ethnic police forces in BH in accordance with the designated periods. It detailed eight commitments which the Republic of Croatia needed to fulfil. Firstly, by the end of June it needed to introduce flexible mechanisms for the visiting of homes, no matter whether the refugees received Croatian ID documentation and, in this aim, immediately issue temporary entry permits. Also Croatia needed to allow the unconditional return of those who did not meet conditions for Croatian citizenship, but had earlier lived in Croatia for many years, and to deliver new comprehensive and non-discriminatory property laws. Alongside this the Government had to accept organised and spontaneous return and authorise all diplomatic missions to process documents which would make return to Croatia easier. It is expected that Croatia immediately organise the voluntary return of those whose homes were empty. The continued stabilisation of the situation in the Croatian Danube River region was also expected. The statement called for an end to, by June 15 at the latest, the discriminatory traffic regime towards citizens of the Bosnian Serb republic on that entity's borders with Croatia. The conclusion at the end to the statement of the Regional Conference on Return says that the UNHCR and the Peace Implementation Council would on June 2 present a strategy with a regional approach for a comprehensive resolution to problems of return. The final stage of the conference was addressed by Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic, British Ambassador to BH Charles Crawford and the head of OSCE's mission in Croatia, Tom Guldimann. In his speech Minister Granic stressed Croatia would contribute to a peaceful, dignified and safe multi-lateral return process. He pointed to Croatia's efforts over the past seven years on accommodation of refugees and displaced persons, stressing that so far it had cost Croatia over $US1.6 billion. Even today, Croatia accommodates 142,000 displaced persons, refugees and returnees, which costs more than $US8 million per month. Ambassador Guldimann called on Croatia to pass a transparent administrative procedure for the issuing of citizenship certificates to persons who had left Croatia, and to define "flexible conditions" for the return of citizens to their homes. He added that the next few weeks would be crucial for the assessment of Croatia's performance in those areas. Some of the speakers in the second part of the conference were representatives of different religious communities including Banja Luka Bishop Franjo Komarica, who once again advocated the unconditional right of all refugees to return to their homes. (hina) jn mr/mrb +mb 290007 MET apr 98