OSCE CALLS FOR INSTRUCTIONS TO BE GIVEN TO HOUSING COMMISSIONS

( Editorial: --> 4605 ) ZAGREB, Aug 19 (Hina) - International organisations have called on the Croatian Government to guarantee clear instructions for the work of housing commissions, in order for its refugee return programme to be implemented quickly and efficiently. Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representatives on Wednesday repeated their warning that the key problem in implementing the programme for the return of Serb refugees and displaced Croats was that housing commissions on the ground did not have clear operating instructions. OSCE spokesman Mark Thompson told reporters that Tuesday's second information conference on return held in Baske Ostarije showed an impressive determination by the Croatian Government and local authorities to continue implementing the return programme, but it also showed the problem of concrete instructions for carrying out the programme. We believe that everything should be done to resolve actual questions which are presented to housing commissions and local authorities on how to implement the programme, he said. UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said the event in Baske Ostarije showed that the government's Commission for Return, which is lead by Deputy Reconstruction and Development Minister Stjepan Sterc, had not delivered actual instructions and information sought by bodies responsible for implementing the plan, especially the newly established housing commissions. The UNHCR repeats that there has to be worked out in detail entire, precise, written instructions alongside clear interpretations of legal foundations for implementing the programme for use by those who are responsible for the difficult task of executing the programme at the local level, Mahecic said. UN Civil Police support group spokeswoman Kirsten Haupt said that unresolved problems related to accommodation and property were causing incidents in the Croatian Danube River region. The police cannot resolve problems which lie at the heart of the incidents, and these are flats and property, which have to be resolved by the housing commissions, Haupt said, adding that they needed clear operating instructions to do this. Thompson said that despite the shortage of clear operating instructions, the OSCE believes housing commissions can start working immediately and expressed satisfaction that Croatian central and local authorities had clearly expressed this at the Baske Ostarije event. He said that for a start the housing commissions needed to take over all the files of previous commissions which had operated according to recently overturned laws on the temporary takeover of property and examine all properties managed by these commissions. Mahecic warned that the Croatian Government should not place conditions on completing its obligations towards the return of refugees by expecting financial assistance from the international community which should result from the donors' conference scheduled for autumn. The government needs to show significant caution in any linking of its obligations for implementing return with receiving international assistance for reconstruction, he said. Haupt told reporters that during the past week there were 29 incidents in the Danube region over accommodation, and 29 ethnically-related incidents which was an increase in relation to the average number. The departure last week of the Indonesian contingent has begun the withdrawal of the UN civil police force which has been carrying out an observer mission in the Danube region since January 15. Departing this week will be Egyptian and Kenyan police officers and next week Jordanian, Nepalese and Algerian officers will leave, which by the end of August will see the number of UN members in this part of eastern Croatia reduced from 180 to 136. Assuming that progress will continue, the second part of the withdrawal should occur in September and allow the smooth handing over of supervision of police operations to the OSCE by the end of October, Haupt said. A UN Security Council presidency report on July 2 approved the withdrawal of UN civil police from the Croatian Danube River region under the conditions that progress was made in the return of Croat displaced people without an increase in ethnically-related incidents and that the work of local police improve. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's envoy to Croatia, Souren Seraydarian, has assessed that these conditions have been met and he has approved the withdrawal of UN police, Haupt said. The number of Serb returnees to Croatia since the adoption of the return programme on June 26 is constantly on the increase. Up to now the government's Office for Refugees and Displaced People has received 10,387 return requests, approved 1,739 and up to now 718 Serbs have returned, according to Office data. The Office also holds that 5,672 refugees have remained in the Danube region and that 16,750 Croat displaced had returned to the area up to August 14 as well as a significant number of unreported returns. Mahecic said the Office holds that the return of displaced Croats had increased with the ending of the school year and was continuing fairly well. Meanwhile, the OSCE's Mark Thompson also commented on last week's talks on the media between OSCE mission to Croatia head Tim Guldimann and new Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) director Ivica Vrkic. The OSCE spokesman said that Guldimann presented Vrkic with his views on restructuring the HRT which he believes is a vital issue in Croatia's integration into European structures. Guldimann emphasised that the draft amendments to the HRT Act represented a golden opportunity for significant reforms to the broadcaster and it would be a great shame not to miss this chance, Thompson said. He said the OSCE was impressed with Vrkic's wish to increase the responsibility and openess of the HRT. (Hina) mbr /jfk 191904 MET aug 98