ZAGREB, 25 Sept (Hina) - A joint working group in charge of the operational procedure of return, consisting of the representatives of the Croatian government, the U.N.Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia, the U.N. High
Commission for Refugees and monitors of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM), held a meeting in Zagreb on Thursday at which it confirmed that progress has been made in the process of two-way return.
ZAGREB, 25 Sept (Hina) - A joint working group in charge of the
operational procedure of return, consisting of the
representatives of the Croatian government, the U.N.Transitional
Administration in Eastern Slavonia, the U.N. High Commission for
Refugees and monitors of the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and European Community Monitoring
Mission (ECMM), held a meeting in Zagreb on Thursday at which it
confirmed that progress has been made in the process of two-way
return. #L#
A statement from the Reconstruction and Development
Ministry said the group positively estimated the registration of
some 12,300 families in the area under U.N. administration and
19,000 families in other parts of Croatia by the Office for
Displaced People and Refugees.
So far, 320 person have returned to the U.N.-administered
area and 1,608 persons have returned to other parts of Croatia.
Several thousands people have returned in both directions
spontaneously.
The joint working group confirmed that by 20 September
1997, the Office for Displaced People and Refugees has issued
1,300 new certificates on the return to the area under U.N.
administration.
In line with a Government decision, another 425 persons,
that is, a total of 4,536 persons, who returned spontaneously,
were granted returnee status.
On 29 September 1997, the joint working group for return
will visit facilities intended for organised accommodation of
displaced persons in Sisak. The displaced will remain in the
organised accommodation facilities until their status is solved
in line with the Operational Agreement.
The Agency for Mediation in Real Estate Transactions signed
agreements on the purchase of nine houses the owners of which
said they wanted to sell their property.
The joint working group also considered the importance of
restoring confidence and returning people, and agreed to join the
implementation of the national program of confidence restoration.
The group also discussed ways to follow the situation in
the areas included in the program of return as well as the
possibilities of financial assistance of the international
community.
(hina) rm
252155 MET sep 97