MOSTAR OFFICIALS TALK WITH U.S. DELEGATION ON RETURN OF REFUGEES

MOSTAR, Nov 9 (Hina) - Mostar's Mayor Ivan Prskalo and Deputy Mayor Safet Orucevic on Monday held talks with a United States delegation about the return of displaced persons to this Bosnian town. The talks focused on the return of displaced persons to Mostar, particularly on the return of Croats to the (Bosniak-Moslem held) eastern part of town, Prskalo told reporters after the meeting. The delegation of the United States' department of foreign affairs was led by the commissioner for refugees in the region of former Yugoslavia, Jullie Schechter, and Valeri Webster, the envoy of the US Ambassador in charge of the implementation of peace agreements in the Balkans, Robert Gelbard. It is time to begin implementing the Mostar Agreement on the return of displaced persons, but this requires financial assistance for the reconstruction of homes, roads, schools and transport, Prskalo said. The US delegation offered assistance for reconstruction, he added. Orucevic, one of the signatories to the Mostar Agreement, said that the Bosniak side had "completed its task", and houses will soon be handed over to Croat returnees to eastern Mostar, according to the most favourable conditions as set by the international community. Orucevic held that financial help is especially necessary to Croat returnees to Mostar's suburb of Bijelo Polje, as this, as he said, would "stimulate return not just to Mostar". (hina) lml