CROATIA SAYS REINTEGRATION PROCESS SHOULD BE SPEEDED UP

ZAGREB, March 7 (Hina) - Croatian government officials headed by Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic on Thursday held talks with representatives of international organizations involved in the process of peaceful reintegration of Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srijem into Croatia. The meeting focused on Croatian views and programs concerning the peaceful reintegration process, particularly a government pilot program for return of Croatian displaced persons to Bilje, Antunovac, Ceric, Lipovac Nijemci and surrounding villages. "Croatia supports the overall return of all refugees and we expect the process to begin by 1 July," Kostovic stresed, adding that 85,000 Croatian displaced persons, 4% of whom are Serbs, were waiting to return to their homes. "We insist on the return of those have been in exile for four years," Kostovic said. Representatives of international organizations said that the pilot program should be harmonized with the return of Serbs who had left Croatia because "a unilateral return could have psychological and sociological effects." The deputy head of the Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees, Damir Zoric, said that applications from 3,000 Serbs to return to Croatia had been considered. Croatia was not obstructing the return of Serbs who had left Croatia, Zoric said, adding that they should submit valid documents issued by the Croatian Government. He said that there was a UN Security Council resolution stipulating the right of displaced persons and refugees to return to their homes and remain there. The Croatian representatives said that reports by some international organizations, that 170,000 Serbs were living in the Croatian Danubian area, were exaggerated. "According to the 1991 census, 250,000 Croatians and 91,000 Serbs inhabited the area," Kostovic said, stressing that the UN Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia (UNTAES) should gather as soon as possible all necessary information to speed up the return. An accurate list of people who lived and who still live in the area should be drawn up, he added. Kostovic emphasized that the peaceful reintegration should be speeded up, urging the representatives of international organizations to cooperate with Croatian government ministries which had drawn up the programs for the return and the reconstruction of the region. The Croatian government also drew up a protection programme for elderly and disabled Croatians and Serbs in the Danubian area. Speaking of non-governmental and international humanitarian organizations active in Croatia, Kostovic said that "the Croatian government insists on their registration and that they submit their programs to the government." It was agreed that the Croatian government and international organizations should hold regular meetings in Zagreb and Osijek to coordinate their efforts in the peaceful reintegration of the Danubian area. (hina) lm vm 072041 MET mar 96