TWO-DAY SEMINAR ON RETURN OF THE DISPLACED BEGINS AT PLITVICE ( Editorial: --> 2855 )

( Editorial: --> 2855 ) PLITVICE LAKES, Nov 21 (Hina) - A two-day seminar called "Neighbour to Neighbour - Support to the Integration of Displaced Persons and Refugees" began at Plitvice Lakes on Friday. The seminar was organized by the Serb Democratic Forum and the Social and Inter-Ethic Communication Centre from Zagreb. The head of the Centre, Milorad Pupovac, said the seminar would discuss the safety of the return of displaced persons and refugees of Serb nationality, tolerance among displaced persons and refugees, issues concerning property and the earned rights of displaced persons and refugees, and the reconstruction of houses, the revitalization of economy and the reconstruction of the infrastructure. In attendance are representatives of associations of displaced persons and refugees, the government, non-government organizations, the UNHCR and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and other humanitarian organizations. Pupovac said the process of reconciliation and restoration of trust was an important task in which both Croats and Serbs, especially the displaced and refugees, must work together. The head of the Croatian government's office for refugees and displaced persons, Lovre Pejakovic, said the government's return programme was not progressing as wished. Several thousands of refugees had returned to the Danube river region of eastern Croatia and about 10,000 Serb returnees had returned to Croatia this year, he said. Goran Dodig, head of the government's office for ethnic and national communities and minorities, advocated small steps should be made. The success of the whole process depended on the people on the ground, he said. The president of the Croatian Association of Displaced Persons and Refugees, Mato Simic, said the government's programme on return and mutual trust had to be supported. (hina) ha 212252 MET nov 97