ZAGREB FOR SKOPLJE ZAGREB, July 22 (Hina) - The first group of Kosovo refugees, who had been temporarily accommodated in Croatia, on Thursday left Zagreb aboard a special flight for Skopje, Macedonia, from where they are to travel
further to Kosovo.
ZAGREB, July 22 (Hina) - The first group of Kosovo refugees, who had
been temporarily accommodated in Croatia, on Thursday left Zagreb
aboard a special flight for Skopje, Macedonia, from where they are
to travel further to Kosovo. #L#
The departure of 120 refugees, who had been accommodated in the
refugee camp Gasinci near Djakovo, was organised by the Government
Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees, in cooperation with the
UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migrations (IOM).
Lovre Pejkovic, the head of the Government Office, expected the
departure of refugees would continue. He hoped it would be possible
to organise 'two flights with 200-300 passengers a day'.
The UNHCR had checked conditions for the return of all persons
returning to Kosovo, said UNHCR Mission head Robert Robinson, who
was also present during the departure.
According to Robinson, the UNHCR has not checked every house in
Kosovo, but UNHCR officials and officials from non-government
organisations have made a general assessment of security in the
areas of return.
Robinson said the organisation of return of refugees to Pristina
and other bigger towns in the province was the easiest task, whereas
the return of refugees to rural areas and especially to areas which
had been caught in the conflict was more difficult. He added though
that the number of security problems in Kosovo was decreasing.
Pejkovic called on all Kosovo refugees currently residing in
Croatia to register with the Office so that their return could be
organised.
He announced that after the departure of the remaining 340
Kosovars, the so far largest refugee camp in Croatia, Gasinci,
would definitely be closed. Over the seven years of its existence,
some 30,000 refugees and displace people found shelter there.
UNHCR's Robinson expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of
his organisation and the Catholic church and the Albanian community
in Croatia. He added the UNHCR highly appreciated the Government's
decision to accommodate 5,000 Kosovo refugees.
The Office for Displaced Persons and Refugees has estimated that
apart from the 3,500 registered Kosovo refugees, another 2,000
unregistered refugees are living in Croatia.
(hina) rml