TWO-DAY CONFERENCE ON RETURN OF REFUGEES ENDS

BUGOJNO, Nov 21 (Hina) - A two-day conference on the return of refugees ended in Bugojno on Saturday with a discussion on ensuring security to returnees in Bosnia-Herzegovina, for which peace is most important, the elimination of political misunderstandings and strengthening of economic development. The conference was organised by the British association for Central and Eastern Europe). Representatives of all three ethnic communities (Croat, Serb and Moslem) from both Bosnia-Herzegovina entities (Croat-Moslem Bosnian Federation and the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska) and lecturers from Israel and Palestine concluded that politicians have different views from ordinary, displaced people who are actually returning to their homes. Through a larger number of non-government organisations where women would work, as they are more tolerant, more forgiving and more able to accept co-existence, and with the support of the international community, the return of displaced persons could be more intensified, participants agreed. Bosnia-Herzegovina is ahead of Israel and Palestine because, in their five-year conflict, Israel and Palestine have only had one resolution on solving the Near-East crisis, while Bosnia- Herzegovina, besides problems and fresh wounds, has a peace agreement, established joint institutions and mechanisms for the implementation of agreements reached, with the mediation of the international community, the lecturers said. Dr. Issam Nassar, a Palestinian, called on the peoples in Bosnia- Herzegovina to, when resolving their problems, think of the Israeli and Palestinians who realised after fifty years that they have one country in which they have to live together. (hina) lml