IOM DENIES INCITING BOSNIAN CROAT REFUGEES TO EMIGRATE

( Editorial: --> 6998 ) ZAGREB, May 27 (Hina) - The International Organisation for Migrations mission in Croatia denied claims which appeared in some media stating the IOM incited displaced Bosnian Croats settled in Croatia to emigrate to other countries. The IOM does not estimate the situation on the ground nor does it distribute any sort of emigration forms, the mission's deputy head, Steve Weitkamp, told Hina Wednesday. IOM concentrates its activities on financing infrastructure reconstruction projects aimed at facilitating the return of refugees and displaced persons to their homes, Weitkamp said. The IOM also provides technical services in organising transport for people who were granted permission by some countries to move in. Besides the mission seat in Zagreb, the IOM has offices in Osijek, Daruvar, Glina, Split and Knin where, Weitkamp said, the IOM acts in cooperation with local officials in implementing certain projects. Representatives of both the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees rejected any possibility of inciting Bosnian Croat refugees to leave Croatia. That would be exceptionally irresponsible for any organisation, OSCE spokesman Mark Thomson told reporters in Zagreb. The OSCE mission in Croatia is not aware that any international organisation has done any such thing, he said. According to UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic, the UNHCR has always tried to return and reintegrate refugees to their mother country. When that is not feasible, the UNHCR tries to take care of refugees in countries which welcomed them. Accommodation in other countries is only the last solution, he said. Each of these solutions must be on a voluntary basis, Mahecic emphasised. The OSCE spokesman said the accommodation issue was also dealt with by some other organisations, even some embassies, but that, Thomson said, was a migration and not a refugee issue. (hina) jn ha/bag 271908 MET may 98