MEDIA HUE AND CRY AGAINST RETURN OF FLATS TO PRE-WAR TENANTS

( Editorial: --> 3065 ) SARAJEVO, Sept 25 (Hina) - The international high representative for Bosnia's decision to extend the deadline by which refugees may return to their pre-war homes has brought open opposition from Muslim top officials in the Croat-Muslim Federation, as well as violent media attacks which are reaching culmination point these days. According to Carlos Westendorp's decision, the deadline by which Bosnian refugees may claim the flats they abandoned during the recent war has been extended until April 4, 1999. Federal Premier Edhem Bicakcic was the first to react, claiming Westendorp had overstepped his jurisdiction. Then came the announcement of a revision of housing legislation which envisages the possibility of returning flats to pre-war tenancy rights owners. According to the federal government, as well as to Westendorp's Office, large families would have precedence in decisions on flat allocation. Families currently living in others' flats would remain in these flats if they have many members, while pre-war tenants would be given smaller flats. A previously unheard of refugee organisation, Regional Refugee Committee for Sarajevo, announced "self-defence from evictions". Sarajevo media close to top Muslim politicians added fuel to the fire by engaging in a campaign confusing the public, with the ultimate aim to prevent the implementation of the high representative's decision. By publishing unconfirmed speculation under blaring headlines, Sarajevo daily paper Dnevni Avaz went furthest in the campaign, which also includes Radio Television of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Avaz among other things reported that 1,5000 Serbian officers wanted back to Sarajevo, alongside war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic and his prominent associates. The daily concluded from these "facts" that both the Dayton peace agreement and the Sarajevo Declaration, which envisages the return of 20,000 non-Muslims to the Bosnian capital by the end of 1998, had been brought to absurdity. According to Sarajevo Declaration Administrative Committee chairman Mirza Hajric, Karadzic is not a problem since he will be arrested if he shows up in Sarajevo. The issue is what about those not indicted by The Hague war crimes tribunal, Hajric said. Spokeswoman for Westendorp's Office Alexandra Stiglmayer told Hina the Office found it difficult at the moment to estimate whether the campaign was an organised attempt against the legislation on the return of flats to pre-war tenants. The high representative and his associates were aware that an extended deadline would meet opposition and remarks, Stiglmayer said. Diplomatic circles in Sarajevo are speculating the victory of radical Nikola Poplasen as Bosnian Serb presidential candidate has increased anxiety among Muslim political structures. Muslims are allegedly afraid the Bosnian Serb entity is now definitely closed for returning refugees. (hina) ha jn/sp 251645 MET sep 98