BANJA LUKA, Mar 9 (Hina) - Croatia and Republika Srpska (RS), Bosnia's Serb entity, in a joint statement on Thursday confirmed the right of Croatian Serbs to return to Croatia and of Bosnian Croats to return to RS, and announced the
signing of agreements on the matter within three months. Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and RS Premier Milorad Dodik in the joint statement also confirmed the resoluteness of the two sides to ensure the return of refugees to their pre-war homes. "Herein is confirmed that the right to one's own home and protection of property is the basic right of every man, as is the right to return," says the joint statement. "Furthermore is confirmed that the principle according to which the owner's right to real estate has precedence over the right of persons occupying the real estate will be fully implemented," the statement says. It adds the Croatian government and Bos
BANJA LUKA, Mar 9 (Hina) - Croatia and Republika Srpska (RS),
Bosnia's Serb entity, in a joint statement on Thursday confirmed
the right of Croatian Serbs to return to Croatia and of Bosnian
Croats to return to RS, and announced the signing of agreements on
the matter within three months.
Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and RS Premier Milorad
Dodik in the joint statement also confirmed the resoluteness of the
two sides to ensure the return of refugees to their pre-war homes.
"Herein is confirmed that the right to one's own home and protection
of property is the basic right of every man, as is the right to
return," says the joint statement.
"Furthermore is confirmed that the principle according to which the
owner's right to real estate has precedence over the right of
persons occupying the real estate will be fully implemented," the
statement says.
It adds the Croatian government and Bosnia-Herzegovina Council of
Ministers will be proposed within three months the signing of an
inter-state agreement "on the return of citizens of one state who
are on the territory of the other state as refugees."
The joint statement binds Croatia and RS to enable by the signing of
the agreement the return of 2,000 persons.
The two sides will also work on creating conditions for the refugee
return, by harmonising the return and reconstruction procedure,
taking concrete and urgent steps to facilitate the refugees'
repossession of real estate, including, if necessary, eviction and
alternate accommodation for the temporary users.
Croatia and RS are also obligated to collect return requests, carry
out a previously harmonised radio and television campaign, and
establish a mixed task force which is to meet every two months to
eliminate obstacles in the return process and find solutions for
those who decide to stay in Croatia or RS.
The mixed task force will include in its work representatives of
refugee associations from Croatia and RS, as well as
representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees.
Croatia and RS will prepare joint project motions within the
Stability Pact for Southeast Europe, including housing and
infrastructure rebuilding to facilitate returns.
In the joint statement, Picula and Dodik agree that competent
bodies of Croatia and RS will stimulate development and eliminate
obstacles in economic co-operation, endeavour to normalise money
transfers in keeping with a signed Croatia-Bosnia/Herzegovina
agreement on borders, and do everything to guarantee free and safe
transborder movement of people and goods.
To ensure the implementation of what has been agreed on in the joint
statement, Croatia will open a consulate general in Banja Luka, the
RS capital.
(hina) ha jn