OSCE Croatia Mission welcomes Prime Minister's call for refugee return

ZAGREB, 12 June 2003 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, Ambassador Peter Semneby, today welcomed a public statement by the country's Prime Minister calling on all refugees to return to Croatia.

"A firm commitment from Croatia's political leaders is important to give refugees the reassurance they need to take the big decision to return home," Ambassador Semneby said. "Refugee return should become a strategic objective for the entire political establishment in the country."

The OSCE Mission and its international partners have long urged the Croatian Government to make a strong public commitment to refugee return.

The statement followed a decision adopted today by the Government to provide housing care for returnees and refugees who are former holders of tenancy rights in the mainly urban areas which remained under Croatian control during the 1991-1995 armed conflict.

Ambassador Semneby welcomed the Government's decision as a positive step, adding that the OSCE Mission's final assessment would be based on actual implementation of the programme. The programme addresses practical concerns related to tenancy rights but leaves the legal issues related to tenancy rights termination open.

"This programme now needs to be carried out in a transparent, efficient and user-friendly manner", the OSCE Mission Head said. "It should be comprehensive and include not only those with refugee status but also those who may have remained in Croatia during the conflict."

"We recommend that the programme for housing care currently in force in the Areas of Special State Concern be revised to grant higher priority to former tenancy right holders."