32,000 REFUGEES RETURN TO CROATIAN LIBERATED AREAS

ZAGREB, March 28 (Hina) - At the moment, thirty-two thousand refugees from areas liberated during last year's Croatian military operations enjoy the status of returnees, the deputy to the head of the Croatian Office for Refugees and Displaced Persons, Damir Zoric, told Thursday's news conference. He cited estimates that this number would increase to 36,000 by May. Zoric also said that the Office would refund all expenses in January to refugees and institutions which accommodated them, which would amount to 35 million kunas (DM 9.45 million). At the news conference, Zoric submitted resolutions which confirmed the return of about 60 people of Serb nationality who had left during the liberation operations to the deputy head of the government Office for cooperating with the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem, Mirko Tankosic. According to data of the Office for Refugees and Displaced Persons, 3639 applications for the return of refugees had been resolved and 2658 applications were going through the procedure. Speaking of return to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Zoric said that, under an agreement between Bosnia and Croatia, the Office had drawn up a program for refugees to pass through Croatia from third countries. In this way, citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina from the Bosnian Federation area, having a status of refugee in third countries, would be able to pass through Croatia without difficulty and additional conditions, while those from the Serb-held area of Bosnia would be able to pass only with visas, Zoric said. Less than 5,000, out of the previous 20,000 refugees from Velika Kladusa, are still staying in the improvised refugee camp of Kupljensko. The process of their return to their homes was being carried out, Zoric said, adding that 200 people were leaving the area on a daily basis. (hina) lm jn 281801 MET mar 96