RETURN OF CROATS AND MOSLEMS TO BOSNIAN SERB REPUBLIC POSSIBLE

( Editorial: --> 9894 ) SARAJEVO, Dec 20 (Hina) - International mediator for the Bosnian Moslem-Croat Federation Christian Schwarz-Schilling said on Saturday he was convinced that the return of Croat and Moslem refugees to the Bosnian Serb Republic could begin without major obstacles. The German diplomat, who was authorised by a recent conference in Bonn to participate in solving problems in the Serb entity of Bosnia-Herzegovina as well, said that Serb President Biljana Plavsic had confirmed to him her willingness to allow Moslem and Croat refugees and displaced persons to return. However, Plavsic said that a large-scale return would not be possible without greater financial assistance from the international community and the economic recovery of the Serb Republic. Schwarz-Schilling said that those issues were not directly connected and that already now Croats and Moslems could begin returning to their empty houses in the Prijedor area of northwestern Bosnia. On the other hand, Serb refugees should be allowed to return to the adjacent Sanski Most area, he added. Schwarz-Schilling expressed satisfaction with progress in solving the issue of return of refugees to the Central Bosnia canton. He called on the international community to support such efforts and urged other cantons to follow that example. The international mediator described as very important the election of Mile Marceta as mayor of the western town of Drvar, stressing that the Croat side had shown a real readiness to cooperate. Schwarz-Schilling said he expected the Moslem side to fulfil its obligations regarding the return of Croat refugees to Vares, 50 km north of Sarajevo, and the central town of Bugojno. (hina) vm 201443 MET dec 97