235 SERB REFUGEES RETURNED TO CROATIA LAST WEEK

( Editorial: --> 4669 ) VUKOVAR, Oct 1 (Hina) - Two hundred and thirty five Serb refugees returned from Yugoslavia to Croatia in the period between September 21 and 27 this year. Of that number, 138 have returned with the help of the Government Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), while 97 returned independently. This was stated in a weekly report issued on Thursday by the UNHCR, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the U.N. Liaison Office (UNLO) in Vukovar. From the beginning of the implementation of the Government Return Programme (June 26) to September 27, 1,116 persons returned to Croatia with the help of the Government Office and UNHCR, while 797 returned independently. In that period, the Government Office received 13,374 requests for the return from Yugoslavia. The UNHCR has received 4,257 approvals for the return from the Government Office, the report said. (hina) it/rml 011630 MET oct 98