IFOR URGES PLANNED RETURN OF REFUGEES TO DEMILITARISED ZONES

SARAJEVO, Sept 23 (Hina) - IFOR spokesman in Sarajevo Brat Boudreau on Monday called on authorities in the Bosnian Federation and the Serb entity to prepare a joint programme for the return of refugees to abandoned villages in the separation zone on both sides of the boundary between the two entities. According to Boudreau, such a programme would prevent incidents in the villages being resettled which are getting more frequent. One such incident occurred yesterday in the village of Jusici near Zvornik in eastern Bosnia. About a hundred Moslems who returned to Jusici to start repairing their houses brought along 15 hand grenades, 6 rifles and one automatic pistol. That arsenal was subsequently confiscated by IFOR, since weapons of any kind are strictly forbidden in the demilitarised zone on both sides of the boundary. Similar incidents occurred earlier in the villages of Dugi Dio and Mahala in the Serb entity. Before the war, both villages were populated predominantly by Moslems. "There's a large number of abandoned villages in the separation zones. People should return to them but in peace and safety," Boudreau said. He said IFOR and UNHCR were prepared to do anything to achieve that goal, including organising the necessary meetings to discuss the return of refugees. (Hina) as 231357 MET sep 96