No conditions for Serbs to return to their homes in Croatia

Associations of refugees from Croatia held a news conference ahead of the 14 anniversary of Croatia's military onslaught against that country's Serb areas.

Source: Beta

Friday, 31.07.2009.

17:03

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Associations of refugees from Croatia held a news conference ahead of the 14 anniversary of Croatia's military onslaught against that country's Serb areas. They say that the attack, known as Operation Storm, started on August 4, 1995, and ended with more than 200,000 Serbs forced to flee their homes, 2,500 murdered, while 2,300 are still listed as missing. No conditions for Serbs to return to their homes in Croatia 14 years later, there are no conditions for the refugees to return since their rights are not guaranteed. "More than 8,000 families are still waiting for their houses to be rebuilt. Several hundred houses have not been returned to ethnic Serb owners, while about 40,000 Serbs with ownership rights are awaiting restitution," President of the Association of Refugee Societies Milojko Budimir told reporters in Belgrade on Friday. He also said he expects good cooperation with new Croatian PM Jadranka Kosor when it comes to property rights issues of Serbs driven out of Croatia. "Since after the war she herself moved into a Serb apartment, she could lead by example now and show good will and move out," Budimir said of the Croatian premier. Refugee Commissioner Vladimir Cucic stressed that one of the basic preconditions for European integration ought to be the question of return and realization of other personal rights for refugees from Croatia, and singled out their right to receive pensions. "In more than 300 returnee settlements nothing has changes, the social, communal and economic infrastructure there is the same as 14 years ago. More than 120,000 Serbs tried to return, but only 60,000 stayed," he said. The refugee organizations will mark August 4 with a service for the souls of the victims in Belgrade's Church of St. Marko, and will then hold a gathering where a declaration will be read, calling on Croatia's authorities to solve all outstanding refugee issues.

No conditions for Serbs to return to their homes in Croatia

14 years later, there are no conditions for the refugees to return since their rights are not guaranteed.

"More than 8,000 families are still waiting for their houses to be rebuilt. Several hundred houses have not been returned to ethnic Serb owners, while about 40,000 Serbs with ownership rights are awaiting restitution," President of the Association of Refugee Societies Milojko Budimir told reporters in Belgrade on Friday.

He also said he expects good cooperation with new Croatian PM Jadranka Kosor when it comes to property rights issues of Serbs driven out of Croatia.

"Since after the war she herself moved into a Serb apartment, she could lead by example now and show good will and move out," Budimir said of the Croatian premier.

Refugee Commissioner Vladimir Cucić stressed that one of the basic preconditions for European integration ought to be the question of return and realization of other personal rights for refugees from Croatia, and singled out their right to receive pensions.

"In more than 300 returnee settlements nothing has changes, the social, communal and economic infrastructure there is the same as 14 years ago. More than 120,000 Serbs tried to return, but only 60,000 stayed," he said.

The refugee organizations will mark August 4 with a service for the souls of the victims in Belgrade's Church of St. Marko, and will then hold a gathering where a declaration will be read, calling on Croatia's authorities to solve all outstanding refugee issues.

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