IN MOSTAR BOSNIACS AND CROATS DISCUSS THE RETURN OF REFUGEES

( Editorial: --> 3124 ) Mostar, 8 January 1998 (Hina)- On Thursday Bosniac and Croat officials from the Herzegovina-Neretva canton and representatives of the FBH GOvernment discussed in Mostar the return of refugees, in accordance with the conclusions of a recent conference in Bonn. The meeting was organized by UNHCR. "The Government of the Herzegovina-Neretva canton was charged with drafting a plan for the return of refugees by the end of February", said prefect of the Herzegovina-Neretva canton Željko Obradović on Thursday evening ater the five-hour meeting. Deputy prefect Fatima Leho said she believed that this year will be the year of the return into the Herzegovina- Neretva canton too. Chief of the UNHCR Mostar office Neil Wright stated it had been agreed that municipalities in the Herzegovina-Neretva canton would find out how many refugees wished to return to their respective territories. Wright said that the meeting also discussed final stage of a pilot project for the return of 100 Bosniac families to Stolac, which has not yet been fully completed, a well as the return of refugees to Mostar, including those who have been arbitrarily evicted from their flats after the signing of the Dayton Accords. Martin Garrod, Head of the Mostar office of the High Representative for BH, said that the responsibility for the return of refugees rested primarily with the cantonal plice. (Hina) jn mr 082112 MET jan 98