69 SERB RETURNEES FROM DANUBE RIVER REGION ARRIVE IN PLITVICKA JEZERA

JEZERA BORJE, 11 July (Hina) - Sixty-nine Serb refugees from the Croatian Danube river region on Thursday arrived in the national park of Plitvicka jezera (Plitvice lakes), some 80 km south of Zagreb. The returnees were escorted by the representatives of the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and Croatian Interior Ministry, officials in Plitvicka jezera municipal headquarters and Korenica police station told reporters. Yesterday's return was organised by the Croatian Government and U.N. Transitional Administration in Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES), UNHCR representatives said, adding that the return was part of a project on two-way return of Croats to the Danube river region and Serbs to the area of Lika-Senj County. The Serb returnees arrived by UNHCR buses in front of the Plitvice motel 'Borje'. The convoy was accompanied by some 10 U.N. trucks which carried farm machinery and luggage. The 69 Serbs will return to Korenica, Bunic, Debelo Brdo, Licko Petrovo Selo, Donji Lapac and Gracac. So far, some 500 Serbs have returned to the area of Korenica and Plitvicka jezera. (hina) rm 111036 MET jul 97