CRO FOREIGN MINISTER & U.S. OFFICIAL ON REFUGEES' RETURNS TO CROATIA

ZAGREB, July 13 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Tuesday received Julia Taft, the United States state secretary's assistant for population, emigration, and refugees. According to a statement from the Foreign Ministry, Granic briefed Taft on the implementation of a government refugee return programme. To date, some 60,000 Croatian Serb refugees have returned to Croatia from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Republika Srpska (RS), Bosnia's Serb entity, Granic said. He added the process was continuing and would be facilitated by more frequent consular days in Banja Luka, RS. Granic explained the complexity of the refugee return process, reminding of the circumstances of Serbia's aggression on Croatia earlier this decade, and the expulsion of Croats and the non-Serb population from occupied areas. The Croatian government is working on facilitating the return process via numerous activities, the foreign minister said, but also pointed to psychological scars which result in individual instances of obstructions. The government will pursue with those activities, aware that the process is a long, as well as a necessary one, he added. Taft welcomed the efforts the Croatian government is making in the implementation of the refugee return programme, and pointed to Croatia's positive role in this regard in these areas. The U.S. assistant state secretary also pointed to the significance of the Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, which she said will establish stability and incite economic progress, thus facilitating the resolution of numerous humanitarian issues, including returns. Foreign Minister Granic emphasised the willingness of the Croatian government to take an active part in the Stability Pact, to the effect of achieving final stability in its Southeast European neighbours. (hina) ha