UDBINA, 18 June (Hina) - The U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith on Wednesday visited Udbina, Lika-Senj County, where he met with the municipal leadership, representatives of Udbina Croats who had been expelled from Udbina by
Chetniks in 1942 and who now want to return to Udbina, as well as with displaced Croat families from Bosnia- Herzegovina, now living in Udbina.
UDBINA, 18 June (Hina) - The U.S. Ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith
on Wednesday visited Udbina, Lika-Senj County, where he met with the
municipal leadership, representatives of Udbina Croats who had been
expelled from Udbina by Chetniks in 1942 and who now want to return to
Udbina, as well as with displaced Croat families from Bosnia-
Herzegovina, now living in Udbina. #L#
The municipal head Ivan Pesut informed Galbraith about the fact
that today's residents of Udbina are Croats expelled from Bosnia-
Herzegovina, Croat natives who had been expelled from Udbina in World
War II and 117 Serb returnees who returned to Croatia in line with an
agreement on return, signed between the Croatian Government and the U.N.
High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
Displaced Croat families from Bosnia-Herzegovina told Galbraith
they wanted security but it was being threatened by a possible return of
all Serbs to Udbina.
Galbraith said he understood the suffering the displaced Croat
families from the Serb-controlled parts of Bosnia-Herzegovina had gone
through. However, the United States has the same principles for all,
Galbraith added.
Those Serbs who want to return should be allowed to. That refers
only to those Serbs who want Croatia to be their homeland and that is no
threat to you, Galbraith said.
(hina) rm
181618 MET jun 97