OSCE, UNHCR and EC urge full implementation of Sarajevo Declaration on refugees

ZAGREB, 18 September 2006 - Heads of OSCE Missions, EC Delegations and UNHCR in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia met in Zagreb today to discuss the implementation of the Sarajevo Ministerial Declaration on Refugee Return.

The Declaration, signed on 31 January 2005, was the first regional agreement on refugee return after the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords.

Under the Declaration, the governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia committed themselves to solving the remaining population displacement by the end of 2006 through facilitating returns or local integration of refugees and internally displaced persons, depending on the individuals' decisions, without any discrimination.

The OSCE, UNHCR and EC acknowledged some progress made by the governments of the four countries in the implementation process of the declaration since the 31 March ministerial meeting in Sarajevo. However the deadline of December 2006 is approaching and considerable work has to be done to achieve a resolution to the issue of refugee returns.

The Principals urged the Governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia to overcome the current standstill without further delay in the process. By the end of the year all outstanding issues need to be addressed and each government is expected to finalise a comprehensive Road Map and a Joint Implementation Matrix.

The International Community remains committed to continued support and facilitate dialogue between the four governments on refugee issues and will contact the respective administrations with more concrete proposals on outstanding issues.