ZAGREB, Dec 18 (Hina) - The holding of a convention of communities and associations of Croat refugees, returnees and settlers is an important step in overcoming extant rifts, the head of OSCE's Mission to Croatia said on Monday.
Ambassador Poncet today attended the Zagreb convention as mission chief of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Also attending were representatives of the Croatian government and parliament, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the European Commission, the United States Association for International Development, and many immigrants' associations. In his address, Poncet applauded the holding of the convention, saying it was an opportunity for Croat and Serb communities to truly tackle real existential issues. It is an important step in overcoming the rifts in Croatia, he said. Poncet told the immigrants' representatives that by organising in
ZAGREB, Dec 18 (Hina) - The holding of a convention of communities
and associations of Croat refugees, returnees and settlers is an
important step in overcoming extant rifts, the head of OSCE's
Mission to Croatia said on Monday.
Ambassador Poncet today attended the Zagreb convention as mission
chief of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Also attending were representatives of the Croatian government and
parliament, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the
European Commission, the United States Association for
International Development, and many immigrants' associations.
In his address, Poncet applauded the holding of the convention,
saying it was an opportunity for Croat and Serb communities to truly
tackle real existential issues.
It is an important step in overcoming the rifts in Croatia, he
said.
Poncet told the immigrants' representatives that by organising in
this way, they had proved their cultural maturity and will to act in
view of finding solutions for all people which had been affected by
last decade's conflicts in this region.
The convention was organised to establish dialogue and enhance
cooperation among various associations of refugees who want to stay
in Croatia or return to Bosnia, ethnic communities, the Croatian
government and international organisations active in Croatia.
The Croatian government, the international community, and Bosnia's
authorities were urged to provide concrete solutions which will
ensure for Bosnian Croat refugees, returnees and settlers in
Croatia the respect of the basic human rights to a home and
dignified living, and the right to a free choice between returning
to pre-war residences or staying in Croatia.
It was said that 450,000 Croats had emigrated from Bosnia since
1992, one third to West Europe, another to overseas countries, and
one third to Croatia. Return is very slow, as seen by data that only
500 Croats have returned to pre-war homes in Bosnia's Serb entity.
(hina) ha