OSIJEK'S REFUGEE OFFICE RECEIVES 2,317 REQUESTS FOR RETURN

OSIJEK, July 4 (Hina) - Osijek's regional office for the displaced and refugees has received requests for the return of 2,317 families so far. The requests covered at least 5,000 people, the office's head, Nada Arbanas, said on Friday. She added that 50 percent of the requests' number referred to the return to Baranja that is under the UN Transitional Administration, and the rest to the return in other parts of Osijek-Baranja County. Branch offices in the eastern Croatian towns under the UN Transitional Administration - Bilje, Beli Manastir and Erdut - registered 2,226 families (or 5,337) until July 1. Less of the half of those people voiced wish to return to their former places of residence, whereas others said they would opt for the property sale and departure from Croatia, she said. (hina) jn mš 041317 MET jul 97