DR.REBIC: CROATIA WILL HELP REFUGEES FROM CENTRAL BOSNIA

ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Hina) - The Head of the Croatian Govt. Office for Displaced persons and Refugees Dr.Adalbert Rebic told Hina today that Croatia is ready to accept a large number of refugees from Vares, and that Croatia will continue helping the refugees arriving to Croatia, but in an organized way and in coordination with the Office. "The Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees has a worked-out strategy for the accommodation of refugees from central Bosnia who start for Croatia," Dr.Rebic said adding, however, that it would be a great problem for Croatia if a large group of refugees arrived at once. Recalling that after the fall of the town of Vares with the Croatian majority in central Bosnia when almost entire Croatian population left the town, Dr.Rebic said that at the moment the displaced population is currently sheltered partly in the Serb-controlled village of Sokolac, and partly in Kiseljak and the surrounding Croatian villages. "It is expected that the columns of those displaced perons will soon start for Herzeg-Bosnia, where they will get temporary accommodation, but we do not how many will be able to stay there, and how many will be transferred to Croatia, "Dr.Rebic said. Asked about the number of refugees expected in Croatia, Dr.Rebic said that there is talk about 15,000 (both from Vares and Kakanj) who had left Vares, and commented: "We suppose that a number of those persons will stay in Kiseljak and the surrounding villages controlled by HVO, while others will stay in Herezgovina and go to Croatia." Dr.Rebic stated that as soon as Sunday 800 refugees from Kakanj, who had left Vares before the fall of the town and who had been sheltered in Herzegovina, are expected in Croatia, and that they are going to be placed in the refugee centers in Kutina and Lipovljani. "Apart from the refugees from Vares, we can also expect a great number of refugees from other Croatian villages and towns that are either surrounded by Muslim forces, or have scarce food and heating supplies and are fearing the winter; we are afraid that afraid that a great number of refugees, perhaps 30 or 40 thousand persons might start from central Bosnia," Dr.Rebic said. (End) j-vk 051446 MET nov 93