GOVERNMENT OFFICE FOR REFUGEES ON PINETA-BOROZIJA TRANSFER

ZAGREB, July 14 (Hina) - "The unflexible stance of the Slovene Government was the reason why the Croatian Government and the Government Office for Refugees decided to move the refugees from the Pineta and Borozija refugee centres," said the Government Office for Refugees in reply to UNHCR criticism of the Government's decisiot to move refugees accommodated in Pineta to Borozija, moving the mostly Moslem inmates of Borozija to other centres. "The refugees accommodated in Pineta accepted the transfer only under the condition of remaining together, as they all come from Kraljeva Sutjeska and Kakanj," said the statement, adding that the Government had no other choice as Borozija is the only centre that can accommodate such a large number of refugees (1028). Rejecting the idea of housing both groups of refugees in Borozija, the Government Office noted that Borozija could accommodate only 1500 people and recalled that local authorities had repeatedly complained about the excessive number of inmates. The statement quoted the need to avoid incidents between Croats and Moslems as the other reason for opting for the transfer. The Office expressed astonishment at UNHCR's opposition to the transfer of the Borozija refugees, since part of them were to move to the Karl Rojc centre in Pula, which was financed by UNHCR. Moreover, at yesterday's meeting a UNHCR representative agreed with the Government decision. "We can only ask what steps has the UNHCR taken so far to obtain the Slovene Government's permission for the refugees to stay in Pineta, because in that case neither transfer would be necessary," the statement pointed out. The statement noted that the Government's intention was not to deny refugee status to any of the inmates, but had no other choice in view of the refugees' persistent refusal to accept the solutions suggested. 142137 MET jul 94