BOSNIAN BISHOPS CALL FOR BETTER REFUGEE RETURN CONDITIONS

( Editorial: --> 8022 ) BANJA LUKA, July 16 (Hina) - Catholic bishops have sent an appeal to the domestic and world public because of the "difficult political and social situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina". Meeting in Banja Luka from July 13 to 15 for the 13th regular meeting of the Bishops' Conference of BH, the bishops released a communiqué on Thursday calling for reconciliation. "Even though this year has been declared the year of return for displaced people and refugees, return in the (Muslim-Croat) entity Federation of BH has been made difficult with many obstacles, and often terrorist acts," the appeal said. "In the (Bosnian Serb) entity Republika Srpska not even the basic legislative conditions have been created for secure and successful return." Emphasising how all four Bosnian dioceses were suffering because of the division of the country into two entities, the bishops said the most hurtful fact was that two-thirds of their faithful were still out of their homes. The Bishops' Conference also warned that war destruction, unemployment and social and political insecurity were not only reasons for the slow return of refugees, but also for the emigration of those people who had remained and endured the horrors of war. Calling for dialogue among all believers and followers of different political orientations, the bishops in their appeal encouraged reconciliation between individuals and nations. "The forthcoming September elections are an opportunity in a democratic way to establish much better conditions for the normalisation of life in BH. "Therefore we encourage all our believers who have the right to vote, to use that right and fulfil their duty as citizens," Bosnian bishops said. They also called upon people to place their trust in candidates who were genuinely committed to the well-being of Bosnia and all of its people. (Hina) mbr jn 161612 MET jul 98