ZAGREB, June 7 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Monday said it was very important that Croatia be given the right place within the south-eastern Europe stability pact, particularly in economic assistance necessary for
the return of refugees. The foreign minister was talking to reporters in Zagreb following a meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sadako Ogata. "Even today, the Republic of Croatia cares for almost 100,000 displaced persons and refugees. For us it is very important that Croatia be given the right place within the stability pact, and especially within the table on economic development and reconstruction, because for the return of refugees, economic assistance is very significant," Minister Granic said. The UN High Commissioner pointed to the existence of a real divide between humanitarian relief and reconstructio
ZAGREB, June 7 (Hina) - Croatian Foreign Minister Mate Granic on
Monday said it was very important that Croatia be given the right
place within the south-eastern Europe stability pact, particularly
in economic assistance necessary for the return of refugees.
The foreign minister was talking to reporters in Zagreb following a
meeting with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
Sadako Ogata.
"Even today, the Republic of Croatia cares for almost 100,000
displaced persons and refugees. For us it is very important that
Croatia be given the right place within the stability pact, and
especially within the table on economic development and
reconstruction, because for the return of refugees, economic
assistance is very significant," Minister Granic said.
The UN High Commissioner pointed to the existence of a real divide
between humanitarian relief and reconstruction and development,
which she said is the result of the difficulty to obtain financial
assistance in the aftermath of a conflict.
Ogata said her present efforts were directed at a genuine
improvement of the international financing system which would
ensure money in the most important period - from the end of a war to
the beginning of stabilisation.
Croatia deserves more attention in view of a post-war financing
system, she stressed.
Ogata thanked Croatia for the assistance it had provided to date in
the Kosovo crisis and for its willingness to accept another 5,000
Kosovo refugees if necessary.
Foreign Minister Granic said, "Croatia has received almost 6,000
refugees and displaced persons from Kosovo and given considerable
humanitarian relief to Albania and Macedonia, and to refugees in
Montenegro."
Both officials assessed Croatia's seven-year-old cooperation with
the UNHCR as excellent, and expressed willingness to continue.
Granic said Croatia and the UNHCR enjoyed excellent cooperation
also in the refugee return based on a Croatian government plan.
The foreign minister reminded that 59,000 Serbs had returned to
their pre-war homes in Croatia, which he said strengthened
Croatia's stability and credibility.
(hina) ha