CONFERENCE ON COMMISSION FOR REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS BEGINS

BEGINS $ IN GENEVA GENEVA, Feb 16 (Hina) - The Geneva headquarters of the International Organisation for Migrations (IOM) on Friday started a one-day conference on the future activities of the Commission for Refugees and Displaced Persons. The establishment of the Commission was provided for in Annex 7 of the Dayton peace agreement. #L# The conference is chaired by the IOM Director James Purcell. It is being held at the request of the U.N. High Commissioner for Civil Affairs in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carl Bildt. According to Annex 7, the Commission for Refugees and Displaced Persons would have nine members - four representatives from the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, two representatives from Republika Srpska and three from the European Court for Human Rights, which would be based in Sarajevo. The Commission is to cooperate closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the IOM and other organisations in securing conditions for a mass return of refugees and displaced persons to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Under UNHCR's leadership, the IOM would solve problems regarding property issues and housing problems of refugees and displaced persons, by mediating between the Bosnian parties. The Geneva conference is attended by representatives of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Bosnian Government and Republika Srpska. Present at the conference are also representatives from the countries which are actively involved in the solution of the crisis in former Yugoslavia, accredited in Geneva as well as high officials of the European Court for Human Rights, the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the IOM, the UNHCR and other international organisations. (hina) rm jn 161529 MET feb 96