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OSCE Mission, UNHCR call for full integration of refugees who want to stay in Serbia
BELGRADE 6 June 2007
BELGRADE, 6 June 2007 - A discussion held in the southern Serbian city of Nis today concluded that refugees who want to stay in Serbia need to be allowed to fully integrate into Serbian society.
The event was part of a series of roundtable discussions devoted to finding a durable solution for the displaced population from former Yugoslavia residing in Serbia. It was organized by the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the UNHCR Representation in Serbia.
"The integration is still pending for many refugees in Serbia, and the quality of their life needs to be brought up at least to a level of an average citizen," said Hannelore Valier, the Head of the OSCE Mission's Democratization Department. "Refugees should enjoy full citizenship, housing, employment, and social welfare rights."
The roundtable meetings were held in partnership with the Humanitarian Centre for Integration and Tolerance and the Group 484, in co-ordination with the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia. Participants included representatives of 20 refugee associations, the Commissariat and municipal officials.
"The international community is committed to finding durable solutions for refugees," said John Young, Senior Protection Officer of the UNHCR Representation. "We support Government efforts to identify possibilities for refugee integration."
The roundtables were designed to facilitate a discussion based on existing national instruments, such as the Road Map and the National Strategy for Resolving the Problems of Refugees and IDPs. Participants are expected to help identify the remaining integration obstacles, highlight best practices and promote existing integration programmes.
The event was part of a series of roundtable discussions devoted to finding a durable solution for the displaced population from former Yugoslavia residing in Serbia. It was organized by the OSCE Mission to Serbia and the UNHCR Representation in Serbia.
"The integration is still pending for many refugees in Serbia, and the quality of their life needs to be brought up at least to a level of an average citizen," said Hannelore Valier, the Head of the OSCE Mission's Democratization Department. "Refugees should enjoy full citizenship, housing, employment, and social welfare rights."
The roundtable meetings were held in partnership with the Humanitarian Centre for Integration and Tolerance and the Group 484, in co-ordination with the Commissariat for Refugees of the Republic of Serbia. Participants included representatives of 20 refugee associations, the Commissariat and municipal officials.
"The international community is committed to finding durable solutions for refugees," said John Young, Senior Protection Officer of the UNHCR Representation. "We support Government efforts to identify possibilities for refugee integration."
The roundtables were designed to facilitate a discussion based on existing national instruments, such as the Road Map and the National Strategy for Resolving the Problems of Refugees and IDPs. Participants are expected to help identify the remaining integration obstacles, highlight best practices and promote existing integration programmes.