OSCE Mission Head says that adequate housing for former occupancy/tenancy rights holders key to closing refugee file in Croatia

ZAGREB, 30 July 2004 - Commenting today on a recent verdict by the European Court of Human Rights, addressing the legality of terminating occupancy/tenancy rights, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia said the task of providing housing to all returning refugees in Croatia will still have to be fulfilled.

"Former occupancy/tenancy rights holders in socially-owned housing are the most important remaining refugee category without housing options in Croatia," Ambassador Peter Semneby said. "In order to close the file on refugee return, it is essential that those former occupancy/tenancy rights holders who wish to return are offered access to adequate housing."

Ambassador Semneby's comments followed the recent Blecic vs. Croatia verdict by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

The OSCE Mission Head pointed out that the present government had committed itself to carrying out two programmes launched by the former government in order to provide housing to former occupancy/tenancy rights holders wanting to return.

"These programmes were adopted in 2000 and in 2003, but they have yet to show visible results. The OSCE Mission, along with its international partners, is urging the rapid implementation of these housing programmes."

Ambassador Semneby added that the OSCE, along with the European Commission and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, had agreed to propose a "road map" for refugee return to the governments of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro. This will include concrete measures to be taken in order to close the refugee return file in the next couple of years. Housing for former occupancy/tenancy rights holders who wish to return will be a top priority of the "road map".

Ensuring the right of housing to all refugees who wish to return to Croatia is a main focus of the OSCE Mission to Croatia and its international partners.