OVER 8 000 DISPLACED PERSONS RETURN TO DANUBIAN AREA

( Editorial: --> 5200 ) ZAGREB/VUKOVAR, Jan 17 (Hina) - Over 8,000 displaced persons, out of whom 4,449 people have received the status of returnee i.e. received a 'green card', have returned to the Croatian Danube river region, the Croatian government Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees said. The Office in Zagreb has so far received 26,858 applications which include 78,355 persons for return to the Danubian area. Regarding the return of Serbs from the Danubian area to their homes, the Office has registered 11,000 persons of whom 4,099 persons have received the status of returnee. A total of 2,667 persons returned to the Danubian area in the period between 29 May 1997 to 14 January 1998. Most of them returned with the help of the Work Group for Return, comprising of representatives of the UNTAES, UNHCR and the Croatian government. Over 8,000 persons returned to other areas of Croatia without their certificates of return. Out of a total of 16,449 Serb families or 31,958 persons from other parts of Croatia which had been registered in the Danubian area, 8,197 families, numbering 17,389 persons had applied to return to their homes, while the others did not wish to return or were indecisive, the Office said. (hina) lm 171734 MET jan 98