HDZ BIH REFUTES ACCUSATIONS ON OBSTRUCTION OF REFUGEE RETURN

( Editorial: --> 7703 ) MOSTAR, July 14 (Hina) - A Bosnian Croat official on Tuesday refuted accusations that Croat officials were obstructing refugee return. Secretary-general of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia- Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) Marko Tokic described as hypocrisy calls by the international community for Croat refugees to return to eastern (Muslim-controlled) Mostar without basic safety conditions having been secured previously. "The Croats are determined to return but they ask international institutions that the return be organised in line with high security standards," Tokic said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon. The statement was released following a special press conference by the head of the Mostar regional office of the High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Martin Garrod. Garrod called on Croat displaced to start returning to eastern Mostar immediately and promised them international help. Croat houses in eastern Mostar are occupied, Tokic said in his statement. "Who will be responsible if cases of murder of Croat returnees, similar to those in Travnik, happen?" "If all displaced Croats need to return to their homes, then how is it possible that the international community - while calling on Croats to return to eastern Mostar and elsewhere - is not returning Bosniaks to eastern Herzegovina, for example to Gacko, Nevesinje or Trebinje?" Tokic asked. At a session held on July 6 this year, the HDZ BiH Presidency set as its priority to observe and implement Annex 7 of the Dayton peace agreement on the return of refugees and established a party sub- committee for its implementation, Tokic said. (hina) rml 142122 MET jul 98