(4 Dec 1996) Serbo-Croat/Nat
Germany has sent 24 Bosnians back to Sarajevo - including the first people without criminal records to be repatriated since it decided more than 300-thousand refugees would have to return.
Despite protests from some politicians and refugee groups, the deportees were put on a chartered Fokker 27 plane in the cargo area of Munich airport, out of sight of media cameras and reporters.
The first group of single Bosnian refugees without criminal records flew in from Germany and received a wintry welcome as their plane touched down in Sarajevo, Wednesday.
Freezing weather and snow had turned the airport white.
Security was highly visible at the airport, and the press were also out in force to witness the return of these refugees who had fled the violence.
The refugees from the southern states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuertemburg were ushered into the airport building.
A spokesman for the Bavarian Interior Ministry said 15 of the group had been convicted of crimes.
Nine others who had no record and had been living on social security in Germany, were all skilled craftsmen.
And state officials declined to give further details on the refugees' status or ultimate
destinations.
Officials at the airport were also not keen to allow the refugees to talk to the press, although one managed to say a few words.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"There are 24 of us. They have done an evil thing."
SUPER CAPTION: Deportee
The Bosnian and German governments signed a pact last month to repatriate more than 320,000 war refugees from Germany, adding weight to a decision by Germany's 16 states
to begin returning single refugees this fall and families next year.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
