ZAGREB, Dec 16 (Hina) - The recognition of the irrevocable right to +return of refugees is Croatia's big success in 1998, but equal +success is needed for returnees to without discrimination reclaim +their property, UN High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) +spokesman Andrej Mahecic told reporters Wednesday.+ By the adoption of the plan in June, the Croatian Government has +"recognised the right to return as an inalienable right of every +refugee and displaced person, the right to enjoy and enter +property, it endorsed residence as an additional ground for return, +it reaffirmed the unconditional nature of return and equal +treatment of all categories of returnees," Mahecic said.+ The UNHCR will, however, consider these results as satisfactory +only when the successful resuming of property as envisaged by the +programme takes effect and when the true return of refugees in +difficult situations begins.+ Since the beg
ZAGREB, Dec 16 (Hina) - The recognition of the irrevocable right to
return of refugees is Croatia's big success in 1998, but equal
success is needed for returnees to without discrimination reclaim
their property, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
spokesman Andrej Mahecic told reporters Wednesday.
By the adoption of the plan in June, the Croatian Government has
"recognised the right to return as an inalienable right of every
refugee and displaced person, the right to enjoy and enter
property, it endorsed residence as an additional ground for return,
it reaffirmed the unconditional nature of return and equal
treatment of all categories of returnees," Mahecic said.
The UNHCR will, however, consider these results as satisfactory
only when the successful resuming of property as envisaged by the
programme takes effect and when the true return of refugees in
difficult situations begins.
Since the beginning of the implementation of the programme of
return since mid-December, 1,587 persons have returned with the
assistance of the Croatian Government's Office, and 1,173 have
returned without assistance.
A total of 3,151 persons have returned with travel papers issued by
Croatian diplomatic missions.
A total of 5,911 people have returned in less than six months,
Mahecic stated.
"The total number of minority returns in and within Croatia is
approximately 53,420, this number includes 27,823 persons who have
perpetuated from the FRY (Yugoslavia) since the end of 1995, as well
as 25,597 Croatian Serbs from the Danube region who have returned to
their homes to other parts of Croatia".
Around 24,000 displaced Croatians have returned to the Croatian
Danube River region, Mahecic said.
He also warned about the slow, but constant departure of displaced
Croatian Serbs from the region.
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