UNHCR SUPPORTS ONLY VOLUNTARY REFUGEE RETURN

( Editorial: --> 6146 ) SARAJEVO, July 7 (Hina) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is contrary to a forced return of Bosnian refugees to their country, including those who found refuge in Germany, UNHCR spokeswoman Ariane Quentier said in Sarajevo on Tuesday. Last week Berlin authorities returned 230 Bosniak (Muslim) refugees who before the war in Bosnia lived in the east of the Bosnian Serb entity, mainly in the Zvornik area. These refugees could not return to their homes so they found temporary accommodation with relatives and family in Tuzla, north- eastern Bosnia. According to Quentier, all capacity for the accommodation of refugees in this town has been filled for a long time. There is simply no room for new returnees, she said, and local authorities are unable to provide them with means for living. We advocate only a voluntary return, the UNHCR spokeswoman said, and added that the repatriation of this group of Bosniak refugees was organised very poorly. There are 204,000 Bosnian refugees in Germany at present. (hina) ha 071403 MET jul 98