GARROD: SITUATION IN TASOVCICI PEACEFUL

( Editorial: --> 6587 ) MOSTAR, Oct 7 (Hina) - The current situation in Tasovcici is peaceful, head of the Office of the High Representative (OHR) for southern Bosnia-Herzegovina, Martin Garrod, told reporters in Mostar on Wednesday. However, SFOR troops were still reinforced in the area, according to Francois Grandeau, spokesman for the SFOR South-East Division. Garrod expressed satisfaction with the fact that Valentin Coric, despite his resignation, was still performing the duties as the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton interior minister, managing to regain control of the situation in the canton. SFOR's Grandeau accused the local authorities of "not fulfilling their obligations and failing to provide safety in Tasovcici", where Muslim refugees had returned last week. SFOR would continue to ensure general stability wherever the security of international community representatives as well as citizens is endangered, Grandeau said announcing an investigation into the incident. Asked whether the stabilisation force would also help numerous Croat refugees to return to central Bosnia, the SFOR spokesman replied that Croat returnees in central Bosnia had no safety problems. UNHCR spokeswoman in Bosnia-Herzegovina Ariane Quentier told reporters that 28,000 Croats had returned to various parts of the Croat-Muslim Federation since the signing of the Dayton peace accords. Those returnees felt safe, Quentier said. Central Bosnia Canton Prefect Adnan Terzic reported in Mostar yesterday that eight Croat returnees, two of them police officers, were killed in central Bosnia in the previous 15 months. The police have managed to solve only two cases, while the others are still being investigated. The majority of Croat refugees have still not returned to their homes, and are residing in the southern majority-Croat part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. (Hina) jfk/rml 072022 MET oct 98