7th Meeting of the Steering Committee on Refugee Matters
1. The 7th meeting of the Steering Committee, chaired by Mr.Hans
Koschnick, chairman of the Steering Committee and co-chaired by
Werner Blatter, UNHCR Chief of Mission Sarajevo, was held in the
premises of the Council of Europe Development Bank in Paris. In
addition to the ìCouncil of Europe Development Bankî, hosting
the meeting, the following countries and organizations attended
the session from 10.30 to 13.15 hrs: Republic of Croatia, Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, USA,
Canada, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, UK, Japan, Netherlands,
Norway, European Commission, Council of Europe, OSCE, OHR, IOM,
ICVA/ECRE.
2. The Governor of the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB),
Mr. Raphael Alomar, welcomed the participants and in his speech
referred to the fact that the CEB is the only multi-lateral financing
organization whose Articles of Agreement explicitly mention refugees
and displaced persons. He noted with satisfaction that the three
concerned countries had declared a political will to cooperate
in the field of refugees and displaced persons, while the developments
in fYROM and its regional dimension were of great concern. He
welcomed the regional approach by the Agenda for Regional Action
(AREA) document, which he classified as ìessentialî.
3. Mr.Koschnick thanked the Governor for hosting this important
meeting and encouraged the CEB to further engagement in regard
to resolving refugee matters in the region. He provided an overview
on the activities undertaken since the 6th meeting on 22nd March
in Sarajevo, namely the development of the final AREA document,
being in its final preparation stages, following last comments
received and the most recent tri-lateral consultation held on
29 May in Zagreb. He stressed the importance of this strategic
framework in regard to the forthcoming Regional Table meeting
and the Regional Conference end of October. The fact that the
Regional Return Initiative had achieved consensus on refugee matters
to be resolved, was an important signal also to the donors. He
informed the meeting that the official launching of the ìAREAî
was planned to take place on the 27th of June in Brussels and
he encouraged the countries of the region, donors and organizations
to participate on high level to raise the profile of the event.
He welcomed the bilateral negotiations, which had resulted from
the now frequent contacts between Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
and the federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which would hopefully
soon result in the conclusion of bilateral return agreements and
increased returns.
4. Bosnia and Herzegovina provided an overview on the developments
in the refugee sector since the last meeting. Although ìminorityî
returns had reached the 20,000 mark in the first 4 months of the
year, this was still a slow and difficult process in view of the
very high number of Bosnians still exiled or displaced within
the country. Particularly the implementation of the PLIP (Property
Legislation Implementation Plan) was not entirely satisfactory.
Implementation in Republika Srpska lagged behind the Federation.
Funding problems were most important in regard to support to return
as many thousands, who had returned already in 2000, were still
remaining without adequate shelter and reconstruction assistance.
If no assistance can be provided in time a reverse trend in returns
could be possible and would put the entire return effort into
question. The Bosnian representative was, however, pleased to
report that the recent Islamic funding conference had resulted
in the allocation of some DM 12 million for the return process
in a first phase. DM 60 million had been budgeted by the Entity
governments in support for return and Croatia was providing another
DM 5 million for return from Croatia to North-West Bosnia. BiH
also informed about the progress made in the relation with Croatia
in regard to information exchange and the expected conclusion
of a return agreement. Closer relations and information exchanges
with FRY were now under preparation.
5. Croatia informed the meeting on the national plans and new
assistance measures, which were introduced at the session of the
Croatian Government on ìAreas of Special State Concernî on 29
March in Knin. The Governmentís priority was now to ensure repossession
of all property by the end of 2002 and resolve all outstanding
issues affecting refugee return, particularly reconstruction,
by then as well. Considerable resources were required to cover
the remaining reconstruction needs with over 25,000 houses to
be repaired and requirements for alternative accommodation to
be provided. The government was prepared to take on loans to be
able to engage the necessary works and activities in the coming
months. The deadline for applications for reconstruction assistance
remained at the 31st of December 2001. Important was also the
need for demining support to allow return into rural areas. At
this stage Croatia still hosts 21,000 refugees and 26,000 IDPs.
6. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia gave an overview of the
recent re-registration of refugees and the parallel survey conducted
to determine the wishes and return intentions of the refugees.
Of the more than 60 % of refugees opting for local integration,
most stated administrative issues, property, pensions, education,
employment etc as their main impediments to return. Out of the
100,000 families willing to integrate at this stage, some 70,000
will require assistance, according to a pre-eliminary study conducted.
The total financial requirement to cater for housing, economic
integration and social welfare would be as high as US$ 2.5 billion
over the next 10 years. A program providing housing, education
and employment opportunities for the 7,000 most needy families
was now under preparation and would be finalized soon. In regard
to the debate on integration or repatriation, the FRY representative
re-iterated that repatriation remained the priority and that integration
was not an alternative to return. There was increasing hope for
return as relations in the region were improving. The more positive
climate for return in Bosnia and the joint declaration by Presidents
Kostunica and Mesic in Italy (8/6/01) were yet another indicator
for those improved contacts, which would ultimately result in
increasing numbers of returns.
7. UNHCR briefed on the recent visit of the new High Commissioner,
Mr. Ruud Lubbers to the region. The HC had been very encouraged
by the positive developments in Croatia, but had requested for
an immediate facilitation of return to Croatia of those having
expressed the wish to do so in FRY and BiH. He had also urged
the governments in Croatia and BiH to ensure swift and speedy
implementation of property legislation. The widening gap between
the increasing number of returns compared to the available resources
was particularly worrying in Bosnia, where this could lead to
a reverse trend if not addressed immediately. The High Commissioner
had also reiterated the UNHCR position, that while return remained
a priority, the wish of people not willing to return had to be
accepted and this integration process be supported by the international
community.
8. OHR-RRTF commented on the issue of integration versus return,
emphasizing the need to create conditions for an informed choice
first, allowing the undecided to be given a chance. Property restitution
was well underway in Bosnia now and the abolishment of the 2-year
occupancy rule for repossessed formerly socially owned apartments
in the Federation being discussed. The contacts between BiH and
the neighboring countries in regard to refugee matters since the
last meeting were encouraging. OHR also pointed to the important
issue of insufficient resources in support of the return process.
9. OSCE commended the progress made in Croatia with the revision
of the LTTP decisions and other measures and legal readjustments
introduced recently. The property legislation and consequent repossession
of property in BiH was also very promising. However, implementation
of property restitution and other legal provisions were lagging
behind and thousands of people were still affected by a range
of impediments to unconditional return in Croatia. The OSCE, however,
welcomed the establishment of the joint legal expert group in
Croatia and called on FRY to return registry books taken from
Croatia to FRY during the flight, being an important instrument
for refugees/returnees to access documentation necessary for return.
(full OSCE statement in attachment)
10. ICVA/ECRE welcomed the actual steps taken to enhance involvement
of NGOs in the structures of the Stability Pact and particularly
in this Steering Committee. The AREA was considered to be a very
positive advance in defining the key issues and potential solutions
in an integrated manner. Meaningful links within WTI and with
the other WT were imperative. In regard to the return and integration
debate, the NGO community wished to state that there should be
no movement away from the absolute right to return, while the
integration or ìinclusionî of refugees should also be supported
not representing a contradiction as such. The NGOs wished to state
their continuing deep concern over the obstacles to realizable
and durable return to Croatia and called on the SP and Croatia
to address those issues most urgently. The return process would
never end and NGOs had an important role to play (see attached
Statement).
11. IOM reiterated its involvement in refugee matters with over
25% of its efforts dedicated to this sector through individual
case management and counseling. The organization also requested
to include some changes and references in the AREA document.
12. The Director of WT I, Mr. Robert Zeldenrust, described the
current efforts of the Stability Pact in regard to future enhanced
involvement of NGOs in its structures. He also explained the preparations
for forthcoming Regional Table Meeting on 28 June in Brussels
and the Regional (Funding) Conference 25/26 October in Bucharest.
The development of strategic frameworks, such as the AREA were
of great importance in regard to the donor request for coherent
strategies as basis for further funding of activities under the
Stability Pact.
13. The Executive Secretary informed the meeting about the status
of the ìAgenda for Regional Actionî and the steps ahead. Comments
on draft 3 (summary distributed) had been incorporated to the
extent possible, many being corrections. The most important change
had been the rephrasing and refocusing of the text on return and
integration, to ensure that return remained the priority, while
integration was a reality which needed to be supported. First
comments on draft 4 had already been received and the text would
be finalized by the end of the week, thus necessitating last corrections
the Secretariat to reach in the coming 3 days.
14. He re-emphasized that the AREA remained a living document,
which would and should be expanded, corrected and revised gradually.
Of importance was to note that the three concerned countries had
agreed in the last trilateral consultation in Zagreb to provide
national action plans and progress reports on implementation to
add more substance and clear benchmarks to the document and fully
engaging all in a joint process of monitoring. The joint presentation
and launching of the AREA by all members of the Steering Committee,
planned for the 27th of June from 10.30-11.30 in Brussels, was
an important step to send clear signals to the international community
and to the nations in the region, that progress was being made
and solutions for the refugees and displaced were now possible,
if all partners engaged in the necessary actions within the coming
2 years.
15. The ìAgenda for Regional Actionî was adopted .
16. The Chairman Mr. Koschnick concluded the meeting in thanking
all members for their contribution and constructive dialogue in
the recent months, which had culminated in the completion of the
AREA, adopted during this 7th meeting.
Kleinschmidt/Brussels/21/6/2001
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