CRO CONSULAR OFFICE GETS ABOUT 25,000 RETURN REQUESTS - MARKOVIC

ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - Croatian Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), Zvonimir Markovic, told last night's news broadcast 'Motrista' of the Croatian Television that about 25,000 requests for the return to Croatia had been so far submitted to Croatian Embassy's consular office in Belgrade. Between 200 and 300 people passed the consular office daily, and no incident had been registered so far, Markovic said on Thursday evening. Croatian Ambassador stressed that a big step forward had been made recently as a Consular Convention had been signed and an agreement on mutual legal aid prepared for signing, and added that this would much facilitate the return of refugees. According to him, the FR Yugoslavia has been obstructing for some time the signing of border crossings and local border trade agreements, and Markovic explained that the implementation of such deals would further facilitate refugees' return. (hina) jn mš 061101 MET jun 97