U.S.AMBASSADOR TO CROATIA HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE IN KNIN

KNIN, June 18 (Hina) - After visiting Udbina, Gracac, Donji Lapac and Knin where he held talks with municipal heads, Croatian displaced persons from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serb returnees, United States Ambassador to Croatia Peter Galbraith on Wednesday evening held a press conference in Knin. "I support the right of Bosnian Croats to return to their homes in Posavina or central Bosnia if they wish, and to keep their property. But besides Croats and Bosniaks, Serbs who wish to return to Croatia have the same rights. Therefore, we also support the rights of Serbs who wish to return to their homes", said Galbraith. He expressed concern over "constant violence against Serb returnees. Those who return cannot get their house back even when it's empty", the U.S. Ambassador said. Asked to cite instances of violations of the Serbs' rights, Galbraith mentioned several Serb families whom he met today and who, according to him, could not move in their houses even though they were empty. "Everyone has the right to return to their house and it is unacceptable that Croatia refuses to receive Serbs who want to return to their country", Galbraith said, adding that "the number of persons who will return is not so big anyway". Asked if the U.S. Government would finance the reconstruction of Serb houses in the Knin area and Croatian houses in the Danube region, Ambassador Galbraith said the matter is being discussed, but that for the moment there existed no real announcements and that "American assistance consists in improving peace and co-existence, and in bringing justice back." Galbraith reiterated the U.S. standpoint that credit allocation to Croatia would depend on Croatia's behaviour. Speaking about the Croatian 15 June presidential election, Galbraith reiterated the assessment by the Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe that the election was "free, but unfair" and that "the period prior to the election did not meet the fundamental democratic standards." (hina) ha rm 182212 MET jun 97