High level visit sees progress of Croatia's Housing Care Programme
In September, another step forward for Croatia's Housing Care Programme was witnessed first-hand by Deputy Prime Minister Slobodan Uzelac and Minister of Regional Development, Forestry and Water Management, Petar Cobankovic.
Accompanied by staff from their ministries and the OSCE Office in Zagreb, the group visited the municipalities of Dvor and Gvozd in Croatia's Sisak-Moslavina county to see the work achieved so far in providing housing for eligible returnees.
Finding housing solutions
"Housing care for refugees and returnees is one of the last remaining commitments of the Croatian Government towards the international community," said Ambassador Jorge Fuentes, the Head of the OSCE Office in Zagreb, "and it seems to be developing quite well."
Former occupants of socially-owned flats in Croatia - known as former occupancy/tenancy rights (OTR) holders - remain the largest category of refugees and internally displaced persons still in need of permanent housing.
As part of its Housing Care Programme, the Government introduced two plans to provide homes for those former OTR holders who want to return to Croatia, and who do not own or co-own residential property in one of the former Yugoslav states.
The Government hopes to provide housing for all eligible former OTR holders in the mainly rural war-affected areas (Areas of Special State Concern, or ASSC) by the end of 2009, and outside those areas by 2010.
Members of the visiting group included Ambassador Fuentes and his staff, as well as three state secretaries, a Foreign Ministry representative and the Head of the Directorate in charge of ASSC, all of whom are deeply involved in the programme.
Visit to Dvor and Gvozd
The group's first stop was Dvor, just north of the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. After being greeted by Mayor Milan Oblakovic and Deputy County Prefect Rajko Mladenovic, they visited a recently rebuilt block of flats in the town centre.
State Secretary Milivoj Mikulic told the group that the building would accommodate ten former OTR holders while some 20 more people still needed homes. "For this purpose," he said, "three additional apartment buildings should be reconstructed in 2009."
Some 50 kilometres north-west of Dvor, the next meeting was chaired by Gvozd Mayor Branko Jovicic, who explained that two reconstructed buildings are now accommodating 12 former OTR holders, all Serb returnees. "The reconstruction of another apartment building in Gvozd should start soon," he added.
Depuy Prime Minister Uzelac said he was satisfied with the progress taking place in the two communities.
Across Croatia, 968 units are currently under construction or reconstruction through the Housing Care Programme, said State Secretary Stanko Janjic. He also mentioned that recent legal amendments have enabled 250 former OTR holders to receive construction material to rebuild their damaged homes.
Visible progress
Ambassador Fuentes reminded the group that he had visited the two buildings in Gvozd six months ago when reconstruction was ongoing. "It was a pleasure to see such progress in a relatively short period," he said. Fuentes also noted that the quality of the apartments was very high, proving Croatia is not only providing shelter for returnees, but accommodation of a high standard.
Minister Cobankovic told Ambassador Fuentes that he was satisfied with the OSCE's interest in the housing programme's progress and suggested another field visit to the area of Eastern Slavonia, which may take place as early as October or November this year.