OSCE & EU REPS DISCUSS REFUGEE RETURN WITH KARLOVAC AUTHORITIES

( Editorial: --> 1448 ) KARLOVAC, May 4 (Hina) - Officials of the Human Rights Committee met heads of the Karlovac-based office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Slunj-based European Union Monitoring Mission, in Karlovac on Monday. They discussed the return of Croat displaced to the Karlovac County, the return of Bosnian Croat refugees, who are currently accommodated in Karlovac, as well as the return of Serb refugees. International representatives were especially interested in the issuing of documents to Serb citizens who left Croatia during the war, and the return of property, as well as the accommodation of refugees from western Bosnia. The head of the County Assembly, Marijan Srdarev, said that there were many problems in the return of Croat displaced to the areas of Slunj, Rakovica, Cetingrad and Saborsko, such as the removal of mines and the lack of conditions for employment and economic development. It is important that the process of return to the Karlovac County be planned and organised, he added. Present at today's meeting in Karlovac were head of OSCE's regional office in Karlovac, Kari Vanhanen, and head of the EU Monitoring Mission from Slunj, Walter Stengel. Vanhanen commended cooperation with Karlovac County authorities announcing more frequent meetings on return and accommodation of refugees. (hina) rm/mrb 041607 MET may 98