CRO OFFICE FOR REFUGEES' DEPUTY HEAD RECEIVES U.S. EMBASSY DELEGAT

DELEGAT $ ION ZAGREB, Feb 26 (Hina) - The deputy head of the Croatian Government Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees, Damir Zoric, today received a U.S. Embassy delegation, headed by the Coordinator for Refugees, Karen Klemp. The delegation included the head of the Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) from Washington D.C., Donald R. Shemanski and the Deputy Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, Marguerita Rivera-Houze, a statement from the Office said. #L# The U.S. Embassy delegation was interested in the refugee situation and possibilities of the return of refugees to the liberated Croatian areas as well as to the Croatian Danubian area. It was necessary to clear the ground of mines and build infrastructure as well as to reconstruct houses before the displaced returned to their homes, Zoric said. As regards the possibilities of the return of refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina to their homes, Zoric said that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had announced that their return would be speedier in April. The Croatian Government Office for Refugees would continue to provide necessary assistance, Zoric added. (hina) rm 261856 MET feb 96