RETURN OF CROATIAN SERBS LOSES MOMENTUM - OSCE

( Editorial: --> 3288 ) ZAGREB, 12 Aug (Hina) - The return of Croatian Serbs to Croatia is losing its momentum because of problems in the work of housing commissions and the intimidation and harassment of Serbs, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) spokesman Mark Thompson said in Zagreb Wednesday. There has been a certain lack of impetus in implementing the refugee return programme, Thompson told a press conference. Most housing commissions do not have clear instructions on how to operate, Thompson said adding that authorities in some parts of the Croatian Danube River region as well as in Zadar, Split, Obrovac and elsewhere have not shown any will to establish housing commissions. The intimidation and harassment of Serbs in the Danube region has continued, Thompson added. The OSCE Mission does not overestimate problems because it is aware that holidays which slow down everything are under way. However, the Government Trust Establishment Committee should start solving those problems as soon as possible, he added. The continued departures from the Danube region showed that the general atmosphere for return was still not as good as it could and should be, Thompson said. According to UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic, the Government Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees has since June 26 received 9,840 requests for organised return by Croatian Serbs, of which it approved 1,359. At the same time, 413 Serbs have returned in an unorganised manner. UN Civil Police spokeswoman Kirsten Haupt said that Serb returnees and those Serbs who did not leave the Croatian Danube region were still exposed to violence and intimidation. There were 74 incidents in the last two weeks in the region and most of them concerned housing problems or were ethnically motivated. Among the more serious incidents Haupt cited were three evictions in Beli Manastir and Knezevi Vinogradi and six cases when explosive devices were thrown at Serb homes or into their yards in Borovo Naselje, Berak, Ceminac, Tovarnik, Beli Manastir and Mece. There were no victims in those incidents, Haupt said commending the very efficacious and speedy reaction of the Croatian police in resolving these criminal acts. Most of the Serbs involved in those incidents had already been intimidated verbally or through night phone calls. Despite the incidents, the return of Serbs to Croatia continues, Haupt added. On Thursday, 70 Croatian Serbs are to return to the areas of Knin, Sisak and Karlovac, UNHCR spokesman Mahecic said. The Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees has approved the return of 56 Croatian Serbs, currently living in Kosovo, who asked for an immediate return to Croatia through UNHCR, Mahecic said. OSCE spokesman Thompson warned about the problems of the Joint Council of (Serb majority) Municipalities (ZVO) in the Danube region. The Council is in crisis because it has neither its legal status or its financing resolved as it should be according to Croatia's international commitments, Thompson said pointing to Article 12 of the Erdut Agreement which pledges Croatia to support the ZVO's work. (hina) rml /mbr 121656 MET aug 98