Visit to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by Hans Koschnick, Chariman of the Steering Committee for Refugee Matters

The Chairman, Mr.Hans Koschnick, accompanied by Mr. Norbert Winterstein, Special Advisor of the Federal German State of Hessen on former Yugoslavia, his Assistant Ms.Julija Pezer and the Executive Secretary of Steering Committee, Mr.Kilian Kleinschmidt, traveled to FRY to obtain an update of the situation and to hold talks with the new Government and a range of IC and local representatives. He also attended the ICVA/ECRE organized NGO conference "New Times for the Displaced". On the 31st of May the team traveled to Novi Sad to visit a UNHCR Integration Project and a Collective Center, before meeting local organizations involved in refugee and general development matters. The whole visit to FRY had been organized and facilitated by UNHCR Belgrade in a most efficient and commendable manner. The UNHCR Representative in Belgrade, Mr. Erkki Heinonen participated in all meetings.

On the 29th of March, Mr. Koschnick first met with Mr.Goran Svilanovic, Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs. The progress in the return process was discussed and Mr.Koschnick raised the issue of integration, or the "right to stay", in the place of refuge, the acceptance of which, was a change of the international position, now being adhered to by his office and UNHCR, but also an increasing number of donors and organizations. Economic recovery development was an important aspect to facilitate this integration, accepting that many "return" areas did not provide any opportunities for a successful economic reintegration. The Foreign Minister provided his personal, rather pessimistic, view on the perspective for return and thought that integration was certainly the most realistic of the three durable solutions, agreeing that economic issues were now a determining factor in the choice of the individual refugee He conceded that ideology had won over reason and that ethnic division had de-facto taken place in the region. When asked to comment about the possibility of a tri-partite meeting on refugee matters, he welcomed this idea, but thought that BH and FRY would agree, while the question would have to be discussed with Croatia, probably more reluctant for the time being.

In the following meeting with Mr. Zoran Djindjic, the Prime Minister deplored the situation of the country and particularly the economy, which he declared to be "clinically dead". Progress was slow as the "ghosts of the past " were " dying but not dead as yet". This was difficult to understand for the International Community and the people of his country. Time and considerable resources were needed to initiate the necessary reform of the entire system. Economic integration into Europe had to be accelerated. In regard to refugee matters he welcomed the proposed idea of a political tri lateral meeting and framework agreement, ideally to be concluded before the summer.

President Kostunica, who availed himself in the afternoon, thanked Mr.Koschnick for his efforts in the region. He particularly welcomed the position taken by Mr.Koschnick toward integration and supported this, what he described to be a: "revolutionary new approach" - requiring economic answers in a very difficult financial context. Return had to remain high on the agenda, while most would certainly decide to stay. The proposed tri-lateral High Level meeting on refugee matters with BH and Croatia was a good proposal, which had to be pursued. To conclude the meeting he requested support from Mr.Koschnick to assist in the effort to prevent new displacements from Northern Kosovo.

Mr.Ladjevic, the Presidential Adviser on refugee issues referred to the continued requirement for humanitarian assistance, particularly for collective center residents, whose needs his country could not cover on its own as yet. The fact that many of the returnees were elderly posed a heavy burden on Croatia and BH. Social and economic recovery programs in the region became now most important in support of return and re/integration. The process of return to Croatia had become again very difficult, not only due to the arrests of returnees, sending negative signals, but also because of complicated procedures and urgent legal adjustments required. Contacts with BH however, were very positive and some concrete proposals for joint return projects were under discussion with the new State government in Sarajevo. It was agreed in the meeting that an inter-ministerial working group with UNHCR participation would prepare integrated pilot projects for priority areas in FRY to ensure the linkage between economic/social recovery and integration and support to refugees.

The issues of return and integration were discussed more in detail in a meeting with Mrs.Gordana Matkovic, Republican Minister for Social Welfare and Mrs.Sanda Raskovic-Ivic, Serbian Commissioner for Refugees. Mrs. Raskovic-Ivic informed that as at the 29/3 280,000 refugees had been registered out of which only 6% indicated their wish to return, while 25% were still undecided. 69% had stated that did not wish to return. The current registration exercise would be extended by 11 days. The urgent requirements to assist Collective Center residents with humanitarian aid, individual solutions and psychosocial support were discussed.

Mr. Koschnick and his team also met with the Ambassadors and Representatives of Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, EU, WB, WFP, UNDP and briefly with the Executive Director of UNICEF, Carol Bellamy.

Meetings were held with the members of the thinktank G17+, the German THW and Mr.Ratko Bubalo, President of the NGO HCIT (in Novi Sad).

Mr.Koschnick attended the ECRE/ICVA conference "New Times for the Displaced", which gathered some 120 NGO and civil society representatives to discuss refugee return and related issues in the region. His speech was followed by an open discussion with the audience in which he particularly emphasized the right to "decide freely" and the "right to stay", which was welcomed by the participants and supported in his speech by Mr.Petar Ladjevic, Presidential Advisor, who spoke about the necessity of integration of refugees, either in the place of refuge or the place of return. In his opinion without the discussion and acceptance of integration, which had now become the reality, the refugee problem would "not be solved for decades".

The field visit to the Vojvodina region and Novi Sad, well coordinated by the UNHCR office in Novi Sad, allowed the team to visit a local settlement project in which refugees from Croatia and Bosnia are in the process of constructing new homes in a self-help approach. All stated, many of whom having lost family members, property or having had traumatic experiences, that they considered return to be no option for them. The same was the observation at a collective center where the mostly old and vulnerable residents provided a passionate plea to the visitors to help find solutions after more than 6 years of life in collective accommodation (one room shared by more than 40 persons under most undignified circumstances). NGOs and refugees in Novi Sad informed Mr.Koschnick that more than 20 new families had arrived in the area from Republika Srpska, having being evicted from repossessed property and who did not want to return to their homes in the Federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

kk/Brussels/5/4/2001