CROATIA TO ALLOW REFUGEES TO TRAVEL TO MOSTAR WITHOUT LOSS OF STAT

STAT $ US ZAGREB, May 24 (Hina) - Mostar refugees "would not be requied to comply with any special procedures for travelling to Mostar for the upcoming elections," the Croatian Government Office for Refugees said in a statement on Friday. The elections are to be held in mid-June, according to Mostar's EU Administrator Ricardo Perez Casado. The Mostar refugees accommodated in other countries would be routinely granted transit visas enabling them to travel to Mostar via Croatia. The trip to Mostar would not in any way affect the refugee status of Mostar refugees staying in Croatia, the statement said. There are currently 3,058 Mostarians with refugee status in Croatia: 3,058 Croats, 922 Moslems, 40 Serbs and 66 members of other ethnic communities. The Office is planning to start cancelling their refugee status hand in hand with the implementation of the return project sponsored and supervised by the international community. (hina) jn as 241332 MET may 96