RADIC SAYS CROATIA WILL ASSIST BOSNIAN CROAT REFUGEES

( Editorial: --> 3465 ) ZAGREB, June 24 (Hina) - Reconstruction and Development Minister Jure Radic on Wednesday acquainted representatives of Bosnian Croat displaced people accommodated in Croatia with the provisions of a Croatian Government return plan for refugees and the displaced. Radic said one provision stipulated that the return of property to the original owner simultaneously envisaged government assistance and providing the current tenant with an appropriate government- owned flat or house. This provision is very important for those Bosnian Croat refugees accommodated in the homes of Croatian Serb refugees, he said. Croatia will assist in the return of Bosnian Croat displaced people to their homes. In instances in which return is not possible, Croatia will help the displaced remain in Croatia, Radic said, emphasising refugees themselves will be the ones to decide whether they want to stay or not. Bosnian Croat refugee representative Ivica Ivkic said they were "satisfied with the interpretation of the return plan". Describing the refugees' mood, Ivkic pointed out to "a certain nervousness" and added that some Croat refugees from the Bosnian Serb entity did not want to return there. A total of 139,000 Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia are currently being taken care of in Croatia, Minister Radic said. Today he also discussed suggestions to revive the economy in areas accommodating these refugees. Economic revival programmes will be presented to the international community at a donors' conference, Radic announced. Asked how the allocation of government-owned flats would be financed, Radic told reporters that "the whole programme, not only the allocation of government-owned flats, but also the building of a high number of new houses, is part of the Reconstruction and Development Ministry's total budget for (the future)". The programme in question envisages both the return and care for 227,000 people and its implementation should, according to the former percentage of budget earmarking, last five years, Radic said. Two documents will also be presented to the international community, including a reconstruction plan and an invitation to a donors' conference on the reconstruction and development of Croatia. Radic said this would be a catalogue of projects and offers for donations from around the world. The Croatian Reconstruction and Development Minister expected support in order to shorten the implementation time of the whole return document. Croatia annually earmarks US$634 million for reconstruction, both from the Reconstruction and Development Ministry's budget and from public enterprise investments. (hina) ha/mbr jn 241930 MET jun 98