UNHCR CONFERENCE ON RETURN OF BOSNIAN,CROAT REFUGEES

OSLO, March 8 (Hina) - Representatives of 35 countries and 30 international organizations today gathered in Oslo, Norway, to discuss the operative plan for the return of refugees to Bosnia- Herzegovina and Croatia, put forward by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The conference was attended by Deputy Head of the Croatian Government Office for Refugees, Damir Zoric. UNHCR propounded a 24-page plan for the return of refugees and displaced persons which is to be implemented by the end of 1997. "Croatia welcomes the document, particularly since the return of refugees to the Croatian Danubian area was included in it at Croatia's request," Zoric said in a telephone statement to HINA. The document gives twelve guidelines for the departure of Bosnian refugees from host countries and their return to their country, ravaged by four years of war. (hina) as 082307 MET mar 96