CROATIAN VICE PREMIER RECEIVES BOSNIAN FEDERATION OMBUDSMEN

ZAGREB, Feb 10 (Hina) - Croatian Vice Premier Ivica Kostovic today received a delegation from the European Security and Cooperation Organization, and Ombudsmen of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Federation. The meeting included Pavol Danic from the ESCO and Ombudsmen, Branka Raguz, Esad Muhibic and Vera Jovanovic. They informed Kostovic of the beginning of efforts by the Ombusdman office and plans for further activities. According to the Ombudsmen, their early experience has shown that 90 per cent of citizens complained about violations of the Constitutional law, freedom of movement, questions of citizenship and rights to housing. The most serious cases of civil rights violations were recorded in the northwestern enclave of Bihac, which was exposed to Serb aggression and was left without humanitarian aid and food. Kostovic said that Croatia was particularly interested in the return of refugees to the territory of the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina territory, as there were 185,000 Bosnian refugees in Croatia. He said no progress was made except that some refugees had returned to Kupres. It was also said that Serb authorities in Banja Luka had stepped up their campaign of ethnic cleansing. (Hina) jn sd vm 102004 MET feb 95