SERB PARTY WELCOMES GOVERNMENT'S PLAN FOR RETURN OF REFUGEES

( Editorial: --> 4969 ) ZAGREB, July 1 (Hina)- Milan Djukic, president of the Serb People's Party on Wednesday welcomed the Government's Plan for the Return of Refugees and Displaced Persons as "absolutely welcome". The plan certainly "meets minimal requirements" regarding the acquisition of return rights, but not regarding the unconditional right to return, enshrined by the Constitution, the European Human Rights Charter and the Dayton Accords, Djukic told a press briefing. The Plan is worst jeopardised by the Serbs' lack of confidence in Croatian authorities and by distrust that is being reinforced in both peoples by the pro-Government media. The Plan is faulty when it comes to the rights of persons who had been protected tenants in socially-owned flats in 1991 and property rights. Djukic believes that the Agency for Facilitating Real Estate Instructions underestimates the value of property it buys from the citizens. Due to inconsistent implementation of the constitutional law on human rights and freedoms of ethnic communities, the Croatian citizens of Serb descent are treated like illegal aliens, Djukic claims. The Croatian authorities have resumed abusing their discretion rights when issuing Croatian citizenship and citizens of Croatian descent are being fired again, Djukic asserts. Incidents such as the recent one in Bijelo Brdo, where Serb citizens attacked disabled Croat veterans of the Homeland war, is not helping the process of peaceful reintegration and trust establishment, Djukic believes. (Hina) jn mr 011943 MET jul 98