ABOUT 5000 SERBS RETURN TO KARLOVAC AREA

( Editorial: --> 8073 ) KARLOVAC/VOJNIC, 13 Dec (Hina) - Around 4,800 to 5,000 Serbs have returned to the area of Karlovac (central Croatia) from the Croatian Danube river region (UN-administered area) and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The returnees left their homes during the Croatian military operation 'Storm' in 1995. The return of Serbs was intensified in the last couple of months. Karlovac authorities are still caring for some 13,000 displaced people and refugees. Some 3,000 Bosnian Croat refugees are accommodated in abandoned Serb houses in Karlovac area. Some eight hundred Croats from Banja Luka and central Bosnia are accommodated in the municipality of Krnjak. There has been an organised return of some 650 Serbs to Krnjak. The return of 1,078 Serbs to the municipality of Vojnic was also organised. Vojnic also received 1,980 Croat refugees, mainly from Bosnia-Herzegovina. A serious problem is the return of property of Serb returnees because Croat refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia are temporarily accommodated in Serb houses, Vojnic municipal authorities say. That is why Serb returnees, who have been living with their relatives for the past several months, have filed 280 requests for the return of their property and houses. 'No one will be thrown out on the streets', Vojnic municipal leaders say. Vojnic also received 60 Croat families - Bosnian Croat refugees and Homeland war veterans, who settled in Vojnic at the invitation of the Reconstruction and Development Ministry. (hina) rm 131620 MET dec 97