UNHCR IS AGAINST FORCED RETURN OF REFUGEES TO BH

SARAJEVO, Sept 19 (Hina) - UNHCR was worried because of announcements that the German government might soon deny residence permits to a large number of refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina settled there, UNHCR spokesman Kris Janowski told reporters in Sarajevo on Thursday. "We have been informed that interior ministers of German provinces may adopt such a decision today. We think it's too early because the situation on the ground doesn't allow refugees to return to their homes", Janowski said. As an example he cited the fact that even on election day, 14 September, few people had decided to cross the entity boundary, despite high security measures. UNHCR thought that refugees should not return before the holding of municipal elections, also to be organized by the OSCE Mission, Janowski said. OSCE spokesman Thomas Leary said that these elections were planned to take place at the end of November. The final decision might be announced early next week. (hina) ha 191411 MET sep 96