CROATS RETURN TO BUKOVICA

( Editorial: --> 7437 ) TRAVNIK, Oct 10 (Hina) - About one hundred displaced Croats on Saturday visited their home village of Bukovica (central Bosnia- Herzegovina). The operation agreed on with the international community passed without any security problems. The returnees were accompanied by members of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) and International Police Task Force (IPTF), as well as local police. Before the war 412 Croats lived in 104 houses in Bukovica. Only ten per cent of the houses remain standing, and are now inhabited by Bosniacs (Moslems). The displaced Croat families are expected to be able to move back into their homes this year. Their houses are being reconstructed by the Dutch humanitarian organisation UMCOR, the USAID and other organisations and governments. The USAID will also renew the electric power and water supply networks. Municipal refugee office head Vlado Lovrinovic said the psychological and security problems of return seem to be solved. Croats have tried several times to visit their village, but were prevented by their neighbours, Bosniaks, he said. Head of the Reconstruction and Return Task Force (RRTF), Jason Taylor, said the international community will provide assistance in the reconstruction of 36 houses by providing additional construction materials. It is necessary that the returnees arrive here every day to clear up and repair what they can. The whole return process as of this point now depends on them, Taylor stressed. Municipal head Besim Halilovic pledged to provide acceptable security and support for the returnees. (hina) lml 101854 MET oct 98