DORIS PACK OPTIMISTIC ABOUT RETURN OF DISPLACED PERSONS

( Editorial: --> 7129 ) ZAGREB, Jan 25 (Hina) - Member of the European Parliament Doris Pack said on Sunday, after having visited Republika Srpska and Banja Luka, that she was more optimistic than ever before about the situation in the Bosnian Serb entity and the return of displaced persons and refugees to their homes. Pack met the Republika Srpska Premier, Milorad Dodik, who, she said, was ready to respect accords from Dayton and, although he had been appointed Premier only a week ago, he had already begun to draw up programmes for the return of refugees. In the next few months several thousand persons might return to their homes. The situation could be especially favourable for Croats who had lived in Croat villages in which there were no Serb refugees today, and their return could be quick, she said. Pack added that Dodik wanted to develop good cooperation with the Croat authorities. This was the year of return and jobs were necessary because a large number of refugees and displaced persons still lived off humanitarian help, Peck said, adding that the international community and the European Union would help with the creation of new jobs in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as in the Croatian Danubian area. If conditions were created, if all sides respected the Dayton Agreement, the international community would be ready to provide the money for the reconstruction of houses and the creation of new jobs, peck said. Pack will visit Republika Srpska again in two weeks and will speak with officials about the financing of the programme of return of displaced persons and refugees. (hina) lm 252008 MET jan 98