President Josipovic visits areas of return

Tuesday, 29 June 2010

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) organized an introductory visit for the President of the Republic, Mr. Ivo Josipovic, that took place in the Zadar County on Tuesday 29 June 2010. During the field visit, the President met with people that have been displaced in the past and started building their futures in the communities they returned to or settled in.

The visit was an opportunity for President Josipović to gain first-hand information on the work of UNHCR with regard to return and reintegration issues in Croatia.
Representative of UNHCR in Croatia, Mr. Wilfried Buchhorn introduced the President to different families, portraying how much has already been achieved and what still needs to be done in order to complete the long-lasting chapter of displacement.

After the field visit, in a round table on reconciliation, refugee return and local integration that was held in Benkovac, the President met with returnee and settler representatives, local and county authorities, high state officials responsible for reintegration issues, and Croatian and regional non governmental organizations in Croatia as well as with Serbian minority representatives. The key topics discussed were: the process of return of Croatian refugees and conditions of their reintegration in homeland and integration of former refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

President Josipovic reiterated his strong commitment and support for the resolution of the chapter of regional displacement. He highlighted that the Croatian Government is on the right track in supporting return and reintegration of refugees but that more needs to be done. The President stated that a principle of equality needs to be adopted together with the principle of empathy for all people seeking solutions and that all administrative barriers must be removed. He emphasized that a human, needs based approach should be sought.
Josipovic underlined that this is not only important for Croatian EU accession but above all it is important for the people in need of support.

UNHCR Representative, Mr. Buchhorn, stated that "visiting and talking to the formerly displaced in their very homes is the best confirmation and recognition of what the people, the Government, international organizations and NGOs have jointly achieved for refugees and returnees in Croatia. It also sends a strong message to those undecided that the return is possible. We should all be encouraged by success stories and intensify our joint efforts to overcome the remaining obstacles in a manner that meets the needs of the people and supports the sustainability of the communities".