TUZLA ACQUIRES OPEN CITY STATUS

( Editorial: --> 8285 ) SARAJEVO, July 17 (Hina) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday stated that the north-eastern Bosnian town Tuzla was granted open city status, thus qualifying for additional international community financial assistance for the refugee return. According to the Sarajevo-based UNHCR spokeswoman Ariane Quentier, Tuzla is the 14th municipality in Bosnia-Herzegovina to have been given open city status, but is specific as being the first major town and regional centre. Tuzla is also specific as it has a large number of refugees. City authorities have always been fully willing to protect the members of low-number ethnic groups, said Quentier. She especially emphasised that currently Tuzla has 15 per cent Croats, as many as in 1991. The number of Serbs is now nine per cent, as compared to the 15 per cent before the war, but the UNHCR believes Tuzla continues to be the town with the best relations between members of various ethnic groups. Local authorities are very consistent in applying property protection laws and are especially resolute in responding to instances when a person or family unjustifiably uses more than one flat, Quentier said. (hina) ha jn 171556 MET jul 98