1300 CROATIAN SERBS ARE IN NORWAY - UNHCR & OSCE

( Editorial: --> 8796 ) ZAGREB, Mar 11 (Hina) - About 1,300 Croatian Serbs are currently in Norway seeking asylum, spokesmen for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mark Thompson and Andrej Mahecic, told reporters in Zagreb Wednesday. According to data of the two organisations, Norwegian authorities have so far reached seven decisions, all negative, Thompson said. Croatian Serbs seeking asylum in Norway continue arriving in Oslo, UNHCR spokesman Mahecic said, adding those who have not been granted asylum may lodge a complaint on the decision in three weeks. Last weekend 56 Croatian Serbs arrived in Oslo from Hungary but, Mahecic said, they were immediately returned to Hungary. Hungarian authorities told the UNHCR office in Budapest they did not have any indication to date that these people might seek asylum in Hungary, saying that Budapest considers them "usual tourists". According to Mahecic, the 56 Croatian Serbs were returned to Hungary as Hungary is considered a "safe country", unlike the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and because these people might have sought asylum in Budapest. (hina) ha jn /mb 111552 MET mar 98