BOTH CROATS AND SERBS MUST RETURN TO THEIR HOMES, SAYS SHATTUCK

ZAGREB, Feb 5 (Hina) - The United States of America advocates the right of Croatian refugees to return to the Croatian Danubian area as well as the right of Croatian Serb refugees to return to their homes, said the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State's in charge of human rights, John Shattuck, in Zagreb on Monday, after talks with Croatian Vice Premier, Ivica Kostovic. #L# "The right of families to return to their homes is the touchstone of the Dayton Peace Accord...and concerns the areas of both Eastern Slavonia and Krajina," Shattuck said. Croatia had already given a positive answer to a large number of applications from Serbs who wanted to return to their homes, but it could not address applications of people who had not submitted appropriate documentation, because this would mean that Croatia was violating its own laws, Kostovic told Shattuck. He said that the process of reintegration progressed slowly, but nevertheless along the lines defined by General Klein. The return of refugees may begin only after Serb paramilitary units are disarmed and an International Administration police force is established, Kostovic said. The refugees will first return to areas where there are no Serbs to be removed from Croat houses, Kostovic said, stressing that Croatia "cannot tolerate the settling of Serbs from other areas" which is taking place in the Croatian Danubean area. "We will protest because this settling may be considered as illegal, as it was not approved by UNTAES, nor was the Croatian Government informed of it", said Kostovic. Shattuck assured Kostovic that the U.S. would support the setting up of a top-level working group to resolve the problem of detained and missing persons, which is vital to Croatia. (hina) lm jn 052233 MET feb 96