CROAT REFUGEES IN KNIN AREA UNWILLING TO RETURN TO BOSNIA - OSCE

( Editorial: --> 5302 ) SPLIT, July 2 (Hina) - The number of Croat and Serb returnees in the Knin area is low, head of the OSCE coordination office in Knin, Andreas Kohlschotter, told a press conference in Split on Thursday. Nevertheless, we place much hope in the return programme adopted by the Croatian Government because it is exceptionally good and effective, Kohlschotter said. Bosnian Croat displaced people and refugees who settled in the Knin area do not want to return to their pre-war homes in Bosnia, which is understandable because their houses were destroyed both in Republika Srpska and the Croat-Muslim Federation, he said. The OSCE too has realised this and started to consider the possibility of their permanent accommodation in the Knin area, Kohlschlotter said. However, conditions have to be created also for the return of Serb natives who wish to return, he added. This is why the OSCE in Croatia will also open agencies for the exchange of real estate, which already exist in Bosnia. The OSCE places much hope in the new return programme which says that it is in Croatia's interest for Bosnian Croats to return to their homeland, the OSCE official said. That is why we have tried to explain to them where it is possible to return in Bosnia but they seem unwilling to return, he added. The situation in the Knin area has started to improve during the last few days and cooperation with the local authorities and municipal leadership is improving, Kohlschotter said. (hina) rml 022323 MET jul 98