CROAT, BOSNIAK REPS DISCUSS RETURN OF REFUGEES TO MOSTAR

MOSTAR, Oct 17 (Hina) - Herzegovina-Neretva Canton and Mostar officials on Friday discussed a procedure for the return of displaced persons and refugees to the Mostar area, in line with Annexe VII of the Dayton Peace Agreement which stipulates the right to return. They agreed to meet again on 31 October in order to discuss further plans on the matter. Also present at the meeting were the Bosnian federal minister for refugees, Rasim Kadic, and his deputy Damir Ljubic. The closed meeting was chaired by Martin Garrod, head of the Mostar regional office of the High Representative for Bosnia- Herzegovina, and Neil Wright, head of the UNHCR office in Mostar. According to Mostar Mayor Ivan Prskalo, today's meeting was "very difficult". There was disagreement on numerous standpoints, he said, but added the meeting was a "big step forward." Prskalo advocated the refugees' return to the Mostar area which, he stressed, will not be one-sided. According to Garrod, all participants at today's meeting unambiguously agreed the Dayton Agreement's Annexe VII must be implemented. Safet Orucevic, Prskalo's deputy, said he supported an agreement on the return of all displaced persons to their homes between Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and the head of the Bosnian mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Robert Frowick. Orucevic also advocated the return of Bosnian Croats to Central Bosnia which, he said, was the only way to contribute to the establishment of the Bosnian Federation. (hina) ha jn 172055 MET oct 97