CONFERENCE ON RETURN AND SOCIAL REINTEGRATION OF BOSNIA STARTS

( Editorial: --> 2555 ) MOSTAR, May 8 (Hina) - Members of a four-day round-table conference entitled "Return of Refugees and the Social Reintegration of Bosnia-Herzegovina", which started in Mostar on Thursday, held a press conference on Friday to outline the aims of the event. Co-ordinator Slavko Kukic said this was the third such conference organised by Bosnia's democratic alternative, which was discussing the causes and effects of the types of government in the country during the past 10 years. President of the Citizens' Alternative Parliament of Bosnia- Herzegovina, Vehid Sehic, said the democratic alternative was formed by forces who wanted to resolve the country's problems differently from the current authorities, who have been in power since 1990, and such a Bosnia-Herzegovina could not be included in European integration processes. Fund for Democracy in BH administrative board vice-president Nedjo Milicevic emphasised that the return of refugees was the foremost issue in Bosnia, but readiness to implement this did not exist because most of those who caused the current situation were still in power. Apart from this, many state officials "because of personal gain were hindering return so as to continue benefiting from the homes of others", he added. Milivoj Gagro, the chairman of Mostar's Centre for the Promotion of Human Rights, said return would be long-term and difficult but it should be persevered with. (Hina) lm mb /jfk 082053 MET may 98