STRASBOURG, Jan 24 (Hina) - During a plenary session the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held a discussion Wednesday on refugees, displaced persons and reconstruction of some countries that had emerged from the former
Yugoslavia. After the discussion, the participants from 38 Council of Europe member- countries accepted a recommendation proposed by the Assembly.
STRASBOURG, Jan 24 (Hina) - During a plenary session the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe held a discussion
Wednesday on refugees, displaced persons and reconstruction of some
countries that had emerged from the former Yugoslavia. After the
discussion, the participants from 38 Council of Europe member-
countries accepted a recommendation proposed by the Assembly. #L#
The recommendation supported the Dayton Peace Agreements and
conveyed hope that they would mark an end to the war in former
Yugoslavia. It also stressed the right of refugees and displaced
persons to return to their homes, which is the basis for
reconstruction, as well as respect for human rights.
The recommendation asked the Croatian Government to
immediately and fully meet the Security Council's requests of
January 8. Croatia was also asked to take measures to ensure that
human rights in the liberated areas are respected and that refugees
return to their homes. The recommendation requested that immediate
action be taken in order to improve living conditions of western
Bosnian refugees from Velika Kladusa, who are currently being
accommodated at the Kupljensko refugee camp.
At a discussing on the problem of Velika Kladusa refugees, a
Croatian delegate, Antun Vujic, stressed that Croatia was not in an
enviable situation as regards the case of the Kupljensko refugee
camp.
'Third countries do not want to accept refugees, and Croatia
is not allowed to carry out repatriation, while financial aid for
refugees is not sufficient', Vujic said. The international
community was setting double standards when demanding of Croatia
something the community itself is not ready to do, he added.
Vujic stressed that the recommendation was creating a good
political frame in which Europe should help resolve the issue of
refugees and displaced persons.
The recommendation called on EU member-states to participate
in resolving financially the problem of refugees.
It also called on humanitarian agencies in the region of
former Yugoslavia to continue offering relief aid and to support
the International Committee of the Red Cross in fulfilling its
obligations under the Dayton Peace Accord.
(hina) jn lm
242229 MET jan 96