BAGO: CROATIA TRYING TO CREATE CONDITIONS FOR RETURN OF REFUGEES

( Editorial: --> 6035 ) SARAJEVO, May 23 (Hina) - The non-existence of any kind of serious preparations for the return to Bosnia-Herzegovina of refugees from that country who during the war found refuge in Germany was the main motive of the Croatian Government to express readiness to receive about 80,000 of them, the Croatian Ambassador to Bosnia- Herzegovina Darinko Bago said in an interview for the Saturday edition of the Sarajevo daily "Dnevni Avaz". The Croatian Government wants to retain those refugees, especially Croats, so that they do not go permanently to overseas countries, said Bago. He explained that by accommodating them on the territory of Croatia they wish to create a preference for those people to return to their homes as soon as conditions are created, and they alone would decide if they want to do that or not. Bago resolutely rejected the possibility that the implementation of these ideas would bring into question the issue of the return of refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina to Croatia or from Croatia to Bosnia-Herzegovina, stressing that even Germany would surely not consent to something like that. On the question to comment on the course of the recent held Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) of Bosnia-Herzegovina Convention, at which the candidate favoured by Zagreb was not elected, Bago said: "I do not doubt that the new Presidency of HDZ B-H would lead the policy of protecting the continued presence of the Croatian people in B-H, and the Republic of Croatia will consistently support that policy". He also judged that implementing President Tudjman's proposal for the change of administrative divisions in some parts of B-H as well as demilitarisation would strengthen Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The administrative divisions idea, stressed Bago, is not contrary to the Dayton agreement which precisely talks about the right of a minority people to establish their own municipality, by which national identity is protected, while demilitarisation, together with firm guarantees by Bosnia's neighbours and the whole international community, would lead to the economic stabilisation of B-H whose entities are not in a position to fork out money necessary for an army. (hina) jn mrb 231218 MET may 98