IOM EXTENDS RETURN ASSISTANCE TO MORE WAR-AFFECTED MUNICIPALITIES

( Editorial: --> 0967 ) ZAGREB, July 31 (Hina) - The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Friday announced it would soon extend cooperation with three Croatian municipalities as part of its programme for helping the return of refugees and displaced people. Along with US$13 million given by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the IOM's Return Assistance Programme (RAP) is meant to renew infrastructure in municipalities which encourage return. The funds are not meant for short-term humanitarian aid but securing conditions for return - the renewal of electricity and water supply networks, roads, schools and others in agreement with local authorities, IOM spokeswoman Janina Hrebickova. Four partnership agreements have already been signed with Petrinja (central Croatia), Darda, Knezevi Vinogradi and Lovas (eastern Croatia) as part of the Programme. On Monday an agreement will be signed with the eastern town of Lipik, on August 10 with the southern town of Obrovac and later with the eastern town of Erdut, RAP project head Steve Weitkamp said. The RAP project started in March this year and aims by the end of 1999 to achieve cooperation with at least 16 municipalities in Croatia and help in the return of 30,000 people, IOM mission to Croatia head Jacques Schutjes said. He said the IOM was established in 1951 and Croatia is one of its 60 member-countries. The IOM office in Croatia was opened in 1992. Meanwhile, Schutjes commented on public accusations levelled in May that the IOM was encouraging Bosnian Croats to leave Croatia for other countries. Schutjes said such accusations did not come from the Croatian Government, which the IOM cooperated with, and the IOM did not encourage migration nor did it conduct interviews with potential migrants. But he added that the IOM would assist in organising the transportation of those refugees who in a transparent way had been accepted by other countries. (Hina) mbr 311344 MET jul 98