STATEMENT BY CROAT OFFICE FOR DISPLACED PERSONS AND REFUGEES

ZAGREB, Aug 3 (Hina) - The head of the Croatian government's office for displaced persons and refugees, Dr. Adalbert Rebic, received a delegation of the Swedish office for immigration and the department for migrations of Swedish Ministry of Culture on August 2, reads a statement issued today by this Croatian office. The heads of the Swedish delegation, Olof Carlstedt and Per Almquist, informed Dr. Rebic of the Swedish government's decision on the expulsion of Bosnia-Herzegovina's refugees, who had entered Sweden with passports of the Republic of Croatia. Those refugees travelled to Sweden in the last few months requesting the status of refugees in this Scandinavian country on the basis of coming from towns and villages in Bosnia-Herzegovina. According to some estimates, there are about 5,000 such refugees whom Sweden declined to allow the status of refugees and it is now returning them to Croatia. The Swedish delegation was interested in possibilities of Croatia to ensure rights and full protection to the returnees from Sweden. The delegation added that the Swedish public was imposing pressure on the Swedish government to cease expulsion of them because of some news that the refugees were to return to Bosnia- Herzegovina. Dr. Rebic explained to the Swedish guests that all rights are guaranteed to the returnees in Croatia. However, owing to grave economic situation and owing to the fact that some parts of Croatia are still occupied Croatia is unable to provide proper accommodation and basic living conditions for the returnees from Sweden. That is why all repatriates, Bosnia-Herzegovina's refugees now returnees from abroad who cannot find proper accommodation at homes of their relatives and friends in Croatia, are advised to come back to free areas of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. So far the number of repatriates from Sweden who have come back into Bosnia-Herzegovina amounts to some 20 persons out of approximately 150 returnees from Sweden. The rest of them have been accommodated in Croatia upon their return from the Scandinavian country. The representatives of the Swedish government accepted a proposal that Sweden should gradually return all B-H refugees with Croatian passports who entered the country illegally. The expulsion would be done also with a previous announcement. Dr. Rebic also proposed that Sweden provide financial aid for accommodation of the returnees, and Swedish guests showed understanding and readiness to accept it, according to today's statement of the Croatian office for displaced persons and refugees. (hina) mm 031331 MET aug 94