BIERINGER - CROATIA SHOULD BE GIVEN MORE TIME FOR REFUGEE RETURN

( Editorial: --> 2262 ) ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina) - The return of displaced persons cannot be organised overnight, that process needs time and it should be given to Croatia, said the upper house speaker of the Austrian Parliament, Ludwig Bieringer, on Thursday in Zagreb. "We have clearly understood that the return of displaced persons cannot be organised today for tomorrow - I refer here to all refugees - but it needs time and that time should be given to Croatia, Bieringer said in a statement to journalists. He gave the statement with the Croatian House of Counties Speaker, Katica Ivanisevic, following a meeting between parliamentary delegations of the two countries. The Austrian delegation is on a one-day official visit to Croatia on the invitation of Ivanisevic. According to Ivanisevic, Croatian parliamentarians explained to their Austrian colleagues how much Croatia has done "as one of the countries which have contributed most to the return of refugees and is still doing that". "With common stances I believe we will be able to help in the understanding of that problem in Europe and the world," said Ivanisevic. The delegations also discussed the organisation of government, the Kosovo crisis and bilateral cooperation between the two states. (hina) mrb/lm 071814 MET may 98