FEDERATION FORUM SUPPORTS LAWS WHICH WILL SECURE RETURN OF ALL REFUGEES

REFUGEES ( Editorial: --> 0280 ) SARAJEVO, 12 Nov (Hina) - The highest Croat and Bosniak officials in the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina agreed with the majority of proposals presented by the Office of the High Representative for the implementation of the Dayton agreement regulating the question of private property and the right of refugees to return to their pre-war socially-owned flats. At Wednesday's session of the Forum of the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina, held in Sarajevo under the chairmanship of the U.S. Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina Richard Kauzlarich, it was said that Federation authorities firmly guarantee the right to private property. The Federation authorities also guarantee to all pre-war tenancy-right holders, who are now refugees or displaced persons, the right to return to their flats within a period of one year. The Federation Premier Edhem Bicakcic told reporters that adequate proposals on changing the Housing Act would soon be discussed in Parliament which is to make the final decision on that question. "The Federation will not be an obstacle to implementing Annex VII of the Dayton agreement referring to the return of all refugees and displaced people", said Bicakcic. Municipalities would have the obligation to provide adequate accommodation for persons temporarily accommodated in other people's flats within one year, he added. The international community will insist on the adoption of a similar law by Republika Srpska authorities as well, so that the same conditions for the return of refugees to the whole of Bosnia- Herzegovina could be created. (hina) jn rm 121920 MET nov 97