OSCE CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO ACCELERATE RETURN OF CRO DISPLACED

( Editorial: --> 0711 ) ZAGREB, April 30 (Hina) - The issue of debtors to Slavonska Bank in eastern Croatia is a matter of great concern to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, said OSCE spokesman Mark Thompson on Thursday. Over the past few days, OSCE again referred to the Croatian Government concerning the Slavonska Bank issue. Several hundred persons from eastern Croatia complained in the last few months that the bank had been claiming interest rates on pre-war debts, even though the bank had not been operational, Thompson said. Until this year the bank did not get in touch with the debtors, while interest was not given to those with a favourable balance. Thompson said the debtors could not be held responsible for the period in which the bank had not contacted them. They were unable to settle the debt as the bank was not operational. OSCE does not see any other motive for such behaviour other than a political one, the spokesman said, adding such behaviour augmented insecurity. OSCE is concerned by similar behaviour in other banks, including Privredna Bank, he said. Last Friday, OSCE held talks on accelerating the return of Croatian displaced persons to the Danube River region of eastern Croatia with Mato Simic, president of the association of returnees. OSCE clearly emphasised that it cannot step up the return, since it is not the Croatian Government and has no way of accelerating the return, Thompson said. According to the United Nations Civil Police Support Group representative, Kirsten Haupt, the situation in eastern Slavonia is stable and relatively satisfactory. The number of incidents has decreased in relation to the previous period, she said. Fifty-six were registered last week, of which 43 referred to moving into houses and eight to intimidation. A UNHCR spokesman said 2,201 persons of Serb nationality had to date left Croatia for Norway. Thirty-eight withdrew the request for asylum, while 37 returned - 36 to Belgrade and one to Zagreb. The spokesman said 136 requests for asylum, covering 197 people, had been turned down. Five requests, covering ten people, have been granted. (hina) ha jn/mrb 302019 MET apr 98