INTERNATIONAL MEDIATOR FOR BH VISITS HERZEG-BOSNIAN CANTON

LIVNO, July 7 (Hina) - The international mediator for Bosnia- Herzegovina, Christian Schwartz-Schilling, on Sunday visited with associates the Herzeg-Bosnia Canton. After a meeting with the prefect of Livno, Mirko Bakovic, Schwartz- Schilling told reporters he was disappointed a transitional municipal council failed to be established in that town, and hoped new municipal authorities would be constituted after the BH municipal election in September. Speaking about the return of refugees and displaced persons to the Herzeg-Bosnia Canton from western European countries, especially Germany where the largest number is settled, the international mediator for BH pointed out the necessity of reconstructing demolished houses in the canton, in order to create conditions for such return. Schwartz- Schilling also stressed it was necessary to work out projects for an organized accommodation of returnees. At yesterday's meeting it was agreed that displaced persons from other municipalities currently residing in abandoned houses be not moved out, even though the houses' owners were coming back, until municipal authorities provided them with new accommodation. The international mediator for BH assessed that human and civil rights, as well as freedom of movement, were respected in the Herzeg- Bosnia Canton. (hina) ha 071119 MET jul 97