TALKS HELD ON CARRYING OUT REFUGEE RETURN PLANS IN MOSTAR

( Editorial: --> 5332 ) MOSTAR, July 3 (Hina) - Canton and city representatives held a meeting with Mostar's top international official on Thursday to discuss problems in implementing local refugee return plans. Attending the meeting called by the Mostar head of the Office of the High Representative, Martin Garrod, were officials from the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and Mostar city authorities as well as the heads of the city's six municipalities, the Bosnian Croat news agency Habena reported. Following the meeting Garrod said the problem was implementing parts of the plan relating to the return of displaced Croats to 120 homes in the Mostar suburb of Bijelo Polje. Of the 120 Croat homes, 35 are damaged and unable to be moved into, while living in the rest are Bosniaks (Muslims), whose homes are in Stolac and Capljina. It was agreed that the 35 damaged homes in Bijelo Polje would be repaired and another 50 Croat homes in other suburbs. In the same way we will try to obtain funds to repair 85 damaged and empty Bosniak homes in Stolac and Capljina, Garrod said. He added that the Dutch government was prepared to finance the reconstruction of 50 Croat homes in the Mostar municipality of Stari Grad. Therefore the ratio is 135 Croat homes to 85 Bosniak, Garrod said. He said would inform Canton Prefect Zeljko Obradovic, who was unable to attend the meeting, of the proposals adopted. Commenting on an open letter sent to him by Mostar Deputy Mayor Ivan Prskalo, Garrod said it was not serious. (Hina) mbr jn /lml 031526 MET jul 98