Brussels
19 September 2000
 

4th meeting of the Steering Group on Refugee Return

 

  1. The 4 th meeting of the Stability Pact Refugee Return Initiative took place in Brussels on 19 September under chairmanship of Mr. Hans Koschnick. The meeting was attended by representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Austria, Canada, Italy, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland and USA, as well as representatives of the European Commission, UNHCR (vice-chair), OHR, OSCE and IOM. Mr. Robert Zeldenrust, the new director for Working Table I, was in attendance, accompanied by staff of the Stability Pact office. Mr. Koschnick referred in his introduction to recent statements he made at the OSCE Political Committee and the UNHCR-led Humanitarian Issues Working Group (post-Dayton). Mr. Koschnick announced that he will hold consultations with the Governments of Croatia and BiH shortly. He reiterated as his main concern the lack of sufficient funding for the return process.
  2. The BiH Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees representative Mario Nenadic emphasized in his statement the need to complete the legal framework and implement the various laws, including property legislation. He also called for continued international reconstruction assistance and announced that his Government intends to open up new areas for return. He also referred to the relatively new phenomena of illegal immigration, transit migration and arrival of asylum-seekers in BiH. The Croat representative (from the Croatian Permanent Mission) delivered his Government's statement as already pronounced at the HIWG meeting in Geneva the week before, emphasizing the positive change in atmosphere, the revision of the legal framework, the need for further reconstruction assistance and the implementation of bilateral return agreements.
  3. The OHR representative Mr. Jason Taylor, Deputy Head of RRTF, noted bureaucratic and procedural difficulties for Croatian Serbs who want to return from BiH/RS to Croatia. In Croatia, the implementation of the amended law on reconstruction as well as the legal shortcomings of the property repossession regime in Croatia additionally discourage Croats from returning. Illegal allocation of land, particularly previously socially owned property, also remains a problematic issue. In BiH, OHR continues to focus on the need to implement property legislation and create employment and education facilities as key elements for sustainable return and reintegration. OSCE made a brief statement focussing on the need to establish in Croatia a legal property restitution regime (including implementing regulations) and to address the issue of lost occupancy/tenancy rights. The BiH representative argued for concluding return agreements with Croatia at the state and not at the entity level. UNHCR (Mr. Mouchet) referred to the recent tripartite meeting with BiH and Croatia held following the HIWG meeting in Geneva where it was agreed to simplify procedures for return and that clearance should be completed within one month..
  4. UNHCR (Mr. Blatter) suggested that a document be drafted listing all obstacles and bureaucratic formalities impeding physical return in preparation for the next meeting. He also stressed that lost occupancy/tenancy rights in Croatia form an additional impediment to return. In Republika Srpska, the absence of a Minister for Refugees constitutes an obstacle to accelerating returns. In the Federation, progress in implementing property laws is needed at the municipal level. The OHR/OSCE/UNHCR property law implementation cell (PLIP) has achieved that so far 13 % of property has been repossessed and that 37 % positive decisions have been taken. Yet, in view of 226,000 claims for repossession filed, the process is still too slow. As for winterisation, UNHCR estimates that around 20,000 persons in BiH and approximately 10,000 people in Croatia will need food supply over the next 6 months; UNHCR is in the process of making arrangements with WFP. UNHCR also referred to the gap in housing reconstruction as a result of shortfall of funds: some 18.250 housing units out of 23,000 need to be funded for repair, and with declining donor funding the return process may be at serious risk. UNCHR is looking for alternative solutions, including self-help projects among returning minorities.
  5. Mr. Zeldenrust spoke about the need to render returns sustainable: next to accommodation and property restitution, this should be achieved by creating job opportunities and education facilities. Further displacement of returnees because of lack of jobs and schooling facilities would be disastrous. He also stressed the need for all organisations involved to provide clear and complete information on the status of return projects, planned and ongoing. Mr. Koschnick asked attention for the situation of those who stayed during the conflict and often face similar problems as returnees. If donors will cut further in their funding, they should do so "horizontally", without affecting one particular sector too much.
  6. Donor states took the floor informing the meeting of the latest state of commitments and disbursements. In addition to what has already been recorded by OCM Zagreb and OCM Sarajewo, there was hardly any "fresh" money announced except for another 25 MEURO contribution from the Netherlands for winterisation (shelter) and reconstruction in BiH (4 MEURO for Croatia, unchanged), and an additional 5 million USD from the USA (totalling 24.5 MUSD) for BiH (plus 15 MUSD for Croatia, unchanged). Germany confirmed for short-term reconstruction projects and food assistance 8 million DM for Croatia and 13.3 million DM for BiH, with another 3 million DM to be released shortly. As for long-term assistance, Germany intends to reduce its funding levels. Sweden mentioned its commitments for the region for 2000 (182 million Swedish crowns) for democratisation and human rights, and economic reconstruction and development. The European Commission did not announce any new money. Of its March pledge of 162.9 MEURO (which had already been committed previously), 148 MEURO has been contracted and 60 MEURO spent. (Of the 50 MEURO OBNOVA some 40.3 MEURO has been contracted). The EU is planning to fund the reconstruction of another 4.300 housing units; yet this by no means covers the gap of 18.000 houses as indicated by UNHCR. No new funding decisions for Croatia were mentioned (out of the package of 23 MEURO pledged in March, 10 MEURO was subsequently committed for 2000 and approved last July)
  7. Both the EU Commission and the US delegation warned for the emerging gap between humanitarian and reconstruction assistance and long-term development. Funding should now be released from development aid budgets The EU Commission is preparing its CARDS programme - the Regulation is expected to be adopted by end 2000, provided neither the EU Council (Member States) nor the European Parliament (having co-decision competence) delay the process. The Commission hopes to adopt assistance programmes within the CARDS framework for each country in March 2001, and commit funding per country programme in April. The Commission is also moving the Stabilisation and Association process forward with Croatia and FYROM (but not yet BiH) which focuses i.a. on economic cooperation and development, going beyond reconstruction assistance.
  8. The DEZA (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) representative informed the meeting of the preparations for a Swiss funded workshop on legal assistance and information exchange aiming at facilitating the return process, to be held in Sarajevo on 5 - 7 October.
  9. The next meeting of the Steering Group will again take place in Brussels on Monday 27 November 2000. The March 2001 meeting is envisaged to be held in Sarajevo.