DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS VISIT KNIN TO ASSESS LOCAL REFUGEE SITUATION

( Editorial: --> 6713 ) KNIN, May 26 (Hina) - Croatian Deputy Prime Ministers Jure Radic and Ljerka Mintas-Hodak on Tuesday visited Knin (southern Croatia), where they held talks with municipal and county authorities about local reconstruction and the return and accommodation of refugees in the Knin area. Radic said that the Government would soon adopt a comprehensive plan on the return of all people who wish to return to their homes. Speaking about the return of Serbs from Yugoslavia, Radic recalled that those people were not refugees but the Government still accepted the fact that they wanted to return. There will be no return of a great number of Serbs in a short period of time because their return will proceed in line with the government programme, have certain dynamics and be gradual and organised, Radic said. He said Bosnian Croat refugees in Knin had no reason to worry because the Croatian Government would protect their interests. Radic also announced that the Law on Areas of Special State Concern would soon be changed with the aim of a more speedy economic recovery in the areas liberated from Serbian occupation in 1995. Knin Mayor Josip Odak warned about the activities of the International Organisation for Migration, whose representatives were visiting Bosnian Croat refugees in Knin and offering them immigration for third countries. International organisations should be in charge of monitoring and humanitarian work. Anything beside it is the violation of Croatian laws, Radic said. The Knin mayor said the situation in the town was satisfying, despite some minor incidents. More than 16,000 people live in Knin, of which there are 1,300 Serbs. Deputy Prime Minister Mintas-Hodak said that local authorities had to be consistent in implementing the Croatian state policy, especially regarding property protection rights. She announced possible financial support from abroad for the recovery of the local economy. MP Drago Krpina warned about the unprincipled policy of pressure on Croatia, which was being carried out by international organisations in the matter of return of Serbs. International organisations have done almost nothing for the return and accommodation of Croats, Krpina added. (hina) rml /mbr 261816 MET may 98