Jeremić urges joint efforts to solve refugee issue

FM Vuk Jeremic says a resolution of the refugee issue in the W. Balkans requires political will, mutual understanding and joint efforts of all stakeholders. Welcoming participants of the Ministerial Review Conference on Resolving the Refugee Situation in the Western Balkans in Belgrade on Monday, Jeremic said that representatives of the regional countries gathered to demonstrate that they can act in concert so as to tackle this issue successfully. Jeremic urges joint efforts to solve refugee issue “That is our obligation to the victims, and that must be our future route,” the foreign minister said. Recalling that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ranked Serbia among top five countries which have a long-term problem with refugees, Jeremic explained that since last year's conference much has been done to resolve the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons. “In the meantime, the Western Balkan countries were engaged in many activities at bilateral and regional levels. Statistical data were exchanged, and regional projects launched with the aim of resolving the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons. The issue of pensions was also addressed,” Jeremic said. The joint work resulted in the creation of a regional program which found solutions for 27,000 households and about 73,500 most vulnerable persons, who are still living in collective centers, he said. According to the program, all collective centers in Serbia will be closed. Some of their users will get apartments, some will be given construction materials, and the rest of them enabled to buy rural households, he underscored. Jeremic noted that it is of crucial importance that regional countries keep fulfilling the goals before the Donor's Conference is held in Sarajevo in 2012. He pointed out that the EUR 500 million should be collected at the conference for the implementation of the program. The minister also said that obstacles of political and financial nature still exist, and added that a declaration will be adopted on Monday, in order to overcome the impediments. The document will outline a framework for the resolution of the issue, he noted. A successful implementation of the program will encourage efforts for reconciliation, peace and stability in the region, and it could also serve as a great example for resolving refugee crises in other parts of the world, he concluded. Besides Jeremic, the conference is attended by Foreign Minister of Croatia Gordan Jandrokovic, and his Bosnian and Montenegrin counterparts, Sven Alkalaj and Milan Rocen respectively. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres will also hold a speech on resolving the refugee issue, as well as EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule. US Acting Assistant Secretary David Robinson, Director of OSCE Secretary General's office, Paul Fritch, Head of Council of Europe's (CoE) coordinating body for migration and asylum Markus Jaeger and Vice-Governor of CoE's Development Bank Imre Tarafas will also take part in the meeting. The four ministers of foreign affairs will sign a joint declaration on Monday. (Tanjug) "Encouraging" EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule stated Monday that today's agreement on a joint regional approach to resolving the issue of refugees should be a strong motivation for the EU member states to play their role in encouraging the EU's further enlargement at the December summit. Addressing the conference in Belgrade, Fule pointed to the significance of regional cooperation, adding that it represents one of the crucial elements of the EU accession and stabilization, of which the return of refugees is one of the main pillars. This is a historical day, politically significant for the region, and the displaced persons who are waiting for a permanent solution. When we reflect on the region's past, we see that the issue of return of refugees was one of the most delicate ones, which affected the largest number of people, Fule underlined. Regional cooperation is very important in many areas, and offers great advantages for the citizens, Fule stressed, adding that reconciliation is not an easy task, but that it has to be an important element in the strengthening of cooperation for the benefit of all. Fule pointed out that the European Commission is ready to continue helping by providing technical expertise and financial support. As for the Donors' Conference, Fule said that the Council of Europe Development Bank will support the project, and that a total of EUR 8 million will be secured through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) for technical preparations of the conference. The process that we are finalizing is not only a change for the better for a large number of people, but also an example of what can be achieved when governments cooperate in the region which is faced with many challenges. That is of vital importance, Fule stressed. "Croatia dedicated" Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokovic stated in Belgrade Monday that Croatia is dedicated to implementing international measures for solving the issue of refugees, adding that Croatia's efforts will further intensify once the country joins the EU. Dressing the ministerial conference Jandrokovic stated that Croatia will continue investing in the restoration of destroyed property, return of pension and property rights, as well as strengthening of the system for the return of refugees. According to him, the declaration that will be adopted today, and the efforts made by regional contries in the joint program for the solving of the issue of refugees and displaced persons will serve as a good example of regional cooperation. He added that it is important for international programs to be implemented and developed, because that is the only way to induce international factors to donate funds. Jandrokovic underlined that the time has come when refugees can on their own make decisions on the solving of their status, adding that countries should launch information campaigns to explain the rights and programs that refugees can select so as to finally resolve their status.

Jeremić urges joint efforts to solve refugee issue

“That is our obligation to the victims, and that must be our future route,” the foreign minister said.

Recalling that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) ranked Serbia among top five countries which have a long-term problem with refugees, Jeremić explained that since last year's conference much has been done to resolve the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons.

“In the meantime, the Western Balkan countries were engaged in many activities at bilateral and regional levels. Statistical data were exchanged, and regional projects launched with the aim of resolving the issue of refugees and internally displaced persons. The issue of pensions was also addressed,” Jeremić said. The joint work resulted in the creation of a regional program which found solutions for 27,000 households and about 73,500 most vulnerable persons, who are still living in collective centers, he said.

According to the program, all collective centers in Serbia will be closed. Some of their users will get apartments, some will be given construction materials, and the rest of them enabled to buy rural households, he underscored.

Jeremić noted that it is of crucial importance that regional countries keep fulfilling the goals before the Donor's Conference is held in Sarajevo in 2012.

He pointed out that the EUR 500 million should be collected at the conference for the implementation of the program.

The minister also said that obstacles of political and financial nature still exist, and added that a declaration will be adopted on Monday, in order to overcome the impediments.

The document will outline a framework for the resolution of the issue, he noted.

A successful implementation of the program will encourage efforts for reconciliation, peace and stability in the region, and it could also serve as a great example for resolving refugee crises in other parts of the world, he concluded.

Besides Jeremić, the conference is attended by Foreign Minister of Croatia Gordan Jandroković, and his Bosnian and Montenegrin counterparts, Sven Alkalaj and Milan Roćen respectively.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres will also hold a speech on resolving the refugee issue, as well as EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule.

US Acting Assistant Secretary David Robinson, Director of OSCE Secretary General's office, Paul Fritch, Head of Council of Europe's (CoE) coordinating body for migration and asylum Markus Jaeger and Vice-Governor of CoE's Development Bank Imre Tarafas will also take part in the meeting.

The four ministers of foreign affairs will sign a joint declaration on Monday.

"Encouraging"

EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule stated Monday that today's agreement on a joint regional approach to resolving the issue of refugees should be a strong motivation for the EU member states to play their role in encouraging the EU's further enlargement at the December summit.

Addressing the conference in Belgrade, Fule pointed to the significance of regional cooperation, adding that it represents one of the crucial elements of the EU accession and stabilization, of which the return of refugees is one of the main pillars.

This is a historical day, politically significant for the region, and the displaced persons who are waiting for a permanent solution. When we reflect on the region's past, we see that the issue of return of refugees was one of the most delicate ones, which affected the largest number of people, Fule underlined.

Regional cooperation is very important in many areas, and offers great advantages for the citizens, Fule stressed, adding that reconciliation is not an easy task, but that it has to be an important element in the strengthening of cooperation for the benefit of all.

Fule pointed out that the European Commission is ready to continue helping by providing technical expertise and financial support.

As for the Donors' Conference, Fule said that the Council of Europe Development Bank will support the project, and that a total of EUR 8 million will be secured through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) for technical preparations of the conference.

The process that we are finalizing is not only a change for the better for a large number of people, but also an example of what can be achieved when governments cooperate in the region which is faced with many challenges.

That is of vital importance, Fule stressed.

"Croatia dedicated"

Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Jandroković stated in Belgrade Monday that Croatia is dedicated to implementing international measures for solving the issue of refugees, adding that Croatia's efforts will further intensify once the country joins the EU.

Dressing the ministerial conference Jandroković stated that Croatia will continue investing in the restoration of destroyed property, return of pension and property rights, as well as strengthening of the system for the return of refugees.

According to him, the declaration that will be adopted today, and the efforts made by regional contries in the joint program for the solving of the issue of refugees and displaced persons will serve as a good example of regional cooperation.

He added that it is important for international programs to be implemented and developed, because that is the only way to induce international factors to donate funds.

Jandroković underlined that the time has come when refugees can on their own make decisions on the solving of their status, adding that countries should launch information campaigns to explain the rights and programs that refugees can select so as to finally resolve their status.