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Serbia counts on international community’s support in solving refugee, IDP issues
Belgrade,
18 May 2010
Deputy Prime Minister Jovan Krkobabic met with an UNHCR delegation from Geneva today to discuss the issues of refugees, exiled and internally displaced persons.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s cabinet stated that they looked at several topics concerning refugee issues, especially Serbian refugees exiled from Croatia, who, along with IDPS from Kosovo-Metohija, are in the worst position.
Krkobabic said that the international community defined refugees and exiled Serbs from Croatia as having long-term refugee status, since they have been living in Serbia for almost twenty years. He also stressed that Serbia is the only country in Europe and one of five countries in the world with this kind of problem.
Due to the large number of unsolved problems related to refugees, cooperation with the UNHCR and their presence in Serbia are very important to us, as well as the role of the EU and the OSCE. We count on their full support to and assistance in solving the issues of refugees and exiled persons, Krkobabic said.
He also recalled the recently held meeting of foreign ministers, dedicated to refugees, and the results of the meeting, adding that it is good that Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia have reached agreement that refugees are their joint problem which they must solve together.
He stated that Serbia insists that without resolving the problem of refugees and exiles Serbia cannot become an EU member, because only the full return of personal and property rights to all citizens, regardless of their nationality, is proof of true democracy and the rule of law in candidate countries.
Krkobabic thanked the UNHCR and its office in Belgrade for a joint document that was signed by the UNHCR, EU and OSCE in Belgrade after the ministerial meeting, and which refers to the rights of Serbs who were expelled from Croatia.
These rights are related to the problem of flats that were forcefully taken away from Serbs, pensions that have not been paid out to them, validation of their years of service in Croatia and many other problems relating to Serbs who are citizens of Croatia, which that country has to resolve, the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Speaking about refugee centres, for which Serbia has to set aside considerable funds, Krkobabic said that Serbia expects help from donors and that such an agreement was made with the UNHCR High Commissioner.
Krkobabic underlined that this help must be given to Serbia so that it could close down the last refugee centre and offer the people who lived there the minimum assistance for a decent life.
Krkobabic said that the international community defined refugees and exiled Serbs from Croatia as having long-term refugee status, since they have been living in Serbia for almost twenty years. He also stressed that Serbia is the only country in Europe and one of five countries in the world with this kind of problem.
Due to the large number of unsolved problems related to refugees, cooperation with the UNHCR and their presence in Serbia are very important to us, as well as the role of the EU and the OSCE. We count on their full support to and assistance in solving the issues of refugees and exiled persons, Krkobabic said.
He also recalled the recently held meeting of foreign ministers, dedicated to refugees, and the results of the meeting, adding that it is good that Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia have reached agreement that refugees are their joint problem which they must solve together.
He stated that Serbia insists that without resolving the problem of refugees and exiles Serbia cannot become an EU member, because only the full return of personal and property rights to all citizens, regardless of their nationality, is proof of true democracy and the rule of law in candidate countries.
Krkobabic thanked the UNHCR and its office in Belgrade for a joint document that was signed by the UNHCR, EU and OSCE in Belgrade after the ministerial meeting, and which refers to the rights of Serbs who were expelled from Croatia.
These rights are related to the problem of flats that were forcefully taken away from Serbs, pensions that have not been paid out to them, validation of their years of service in Croatia and many other problems relating to Serbs who are citizens of Croatia, which that country has to resolve, the Deputy Prime Minister said.
Speaking about refugee centres, for which Serbia has to set aside considerable funds, Krkobabic said that Serbia expects help from donors and that such an agreement was made with the UNHCR High Commissioner.
Krkobabic underlined that this help must be given to Serbia so that it could close down the last refugee centre and offer the people who lived there the minimum assistance for a decent life.
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