Kalmeta was on a two-day visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina to establish how funds granted by Croatia are being used to facilitate the return of Croat refugees. Today he visited the central town of Fojnica, where he discussed problems in the return process with local officials.
Kalmeta told reporters after the talks that Croatia had given significant funds for materials needed for the reconstruction of returnees' homes, as well as for donations to various Croat cultural and refugee associations. He said the main problem at the moment was ensuring sustainable return. "What returnees need the most today are jobs," he said, adding that this problem was connected with the overall economic situation in the country. The Croatian government is expected to define, in line with EU guidelines, new forms of assistance to Bosnian Croats, he said.
Bosnia-Herzegovina's Minister of Human Rights and Refugees, Mirsad Kebo, confirmed that his country was interested in developing projects with Croatia that would ensure sustainable refugee return. He described the cooperation with Croatia in the area of refugee return as exceptionally good.
The two ministers said that the issue of refugee return would be a subject of trilateral cooperation in the region, to include Serbia and Montenegro as well.
During his stay in Fojnica, Kalmeta also visited a Franciscan monastery the reconstruction of which was financially assisted by the Croatian government.