Tadić meets with UNHCR chief

UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres and President Boris Tadic said that the refugee situation in the region must be solved. They both said that they support the quick return of refugees to their homes in Croatia and Kosovo. Tadic meets with UNHCR chief Tadic and Guterres said that they are ready to cooperate regarding the question of closing down collective centers and solving the problem of refugees from Croatia and Kosovo living in Serbia. Belgrade was Guterres’ last stop on a tour of the region that took him to Zagreb, Sarajevo and Banja Luka. He said that Serbia can count on the cooperation and help of the UNHCR regarding the problem of the return of internally displaced persons to their homes in Kosovo. Guterres said that it is unacceptable that there are so many refugees still living in collective centers so many years after the war has ended. He said that the UNHCR’s stance is that the best option would be a voluntary return of all refugees, and promised that the UNHCR would assist Serbia in closing the collective centers for refugees. “”I want to say that we agreed with the Serbian government that we will help speed up and improve the conditions for returning to Kosovo. Obviously, we are not the only ones who are actively involved in the organization of the return. But it is very important that the conditions for integration and the respecting of rights be the conditions for making this return look attractive,” Guterres said. Tadic said that the refugee problem is both the problem of Serbia and Croatia, adding that solving this problem is of great importance to relations between the two countries. “Our approach will be regional and bilateral. We will want to continue to cooperate with the regional institutions. We will cooperate with Croatia as well in solving the questions in terms of good neighborly relations, which must continue, but we want to work with the UNHCR as well in solving the problem,” Tadic said. He said that he expects the Kosovo institutions to help with the return of displaced persons, stressing that attention must be paid to uncovering what happened to the many missing persons from the territory of the former Yugoslavia as well. Guterres said that property, rebuilding homes, obtaining rights and pensions are all issues of equal importance for the return process. The UNHCR chief also met with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic and Deputy Prime Minister Jovan Krkobabic earlier on Thursday. Antonio Guterres and Boris Tadic (FoNet)

Tadić meets with UNHCR chief

Tadić and Guterres said that they are ready to cooperate regarding the question of closing down collective centers and solving the problem of refugees from Croatia and Kosovo living in Serbia.

Belgrade was Guterres’ last stop on a tour of the region that took him to Zagreb, Sarajevo and Banja Luka.

He said that Serbia can count on the cooperation and help of the UNHCR regarding the problem of the return of internally displaced persons to their homes in Kosovo.

Guterres said that it is unacceptable that there are so many refugees still living in collective centers so many years after the war has ended.

He said that the UNHCR’s stance is that the best option would be a voluntary return of all refugees, and promised that the UNHCR would assist Serbia in closing the collective centers for refugees.

“”I want to say that we agreed with the Serbian government that we will help speed up and improve the conditions for returning to Kosovo. Obviously, we are not the only ones who are actively involved in the organization of the return. But it is very important that the conditions for integration and the respecting of rights be the conditions for making this return look attractive,” Guterres said.

Tadić said that the refugee problem is both the problem of Serbia and Croatia, adding that solving this problem is of great importance to relations between the two countries.

“Our approach will be regional and bilateral. We will want to continue to cooperate with the regional institutions. We will cooperate with Croatia as well in solving the questions in terms of good neighborly relations, which must continue, but we want to work with the UNHCR as well in solving the problem,” Tadić said.

He said that he expects the Kosovo institutions to help with the return of displaced persons, stressing that attention must be paid to uncovering what happened to the many missing persons from the territory of the former Yugoslavia as well.

Guterres said that property, rebuilding homes, obtaining rights and pensions are all issues of equal importance for the return process.

The UNHCR chief also met with Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić and Deputy Prime Minister Jovan Krkobabić earlier on Thursday.