1936 REFUGEES HAVE RETURNED TO CROATIA FROM YUGOSLAVIA TO DATE

( Editorial: --> 6818 ) VUKOVAR, Oct 8 (Hina) - In the period between the end of June and October 4, 1,936 Serb nationals who had left Croatia following the liberation of Croatia's occupied territories in 1995, returned from Yugoslavia. Since June 26, or rather, the implementation of the government's Programme of Return, 1,139 persons had returned with the assistance of the Government's Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). A further 797 Serbs returned on their own vices, the UNHCR, OSCE and the U.N. Liaison Office noted in their regular weekly report on the implementation of the Programme of Return. The report also notes that the Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees had received 13,416 requests by Serb nationals, for returns in that period. Of that number, 4,257 approvals have been issued. (Hina) sp jn /rml 081642 MET oct 98