Croatian president visits returnees

Croatian President Ivo Josipovic says he would do everything to prevent harassment of returnees who have been waiting for their documents for years. He made the statement on Tuesday during his visit to Serb returnees and Croats from Bosnia-Herzegovina living in the vicinity of the town of Zadar . Croatian president visits returnees During his tour of the villages of Kasic, Islam Grcki and Smilcic, which was organized by the UNHCR office in Croatia, returnees complained to the president about the slow and expensive bureaucracy, which prevents them from practicing their rights, and about the local authorities for failing to experience them as part of the local community. Josipovic promised to prevent harassment of the returnees regarding documents, announcing that he will discuss with Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor possibilities of speeding up the procedure. A round table discussion on the issues of reconciliation, return of refugees and local integration was also held. Besides Josipovic and UNHCR representative in Croatia Wilfried Bucchorn, Vice-Premier Slobodan Uzelac, President of the Serb National Council Milorad Pupovac, representatives of nongovernmental organizations and associations of returnees, as well as representatives of the local authorities attended the discussion. Josipovic and Bucchorn announced that activities on solving the problems of refugees in the region countries will be stepped up.

Croatian president visits returnees

During his tour of the villages of Kasić, Islam Grcki and Smilčić, which was organized by the UNHCR office in Croatia, returnees complained to the president about the slow and expensive bureaucracy, which prevents them from practicing their rights, and about the local authorities for failing to experience them as part of the local community.

Josipović promised to prevent harassment of the returnees regarding documents, announcing that he will discuss with Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor possibilities of speeding up the procedure.

A round table discussion on the issues of reconciliation, return of refugees and local integration was also held. Besides Josipović and UNHCR representative in Croatia Wilfried Bucchorn, Vice-Premier Slobodan Uzelac, President of the Serb National Council Milorad Pupovac, representatives of nongovernmental organizations and associations of returnees, as well as representatives of the local authorities attended the discussion.

Josipović and Bucchorn announced that activities on solving the problems of refugees in the region countries will be stepped up.