Serbia Hosts 100,000 Refugees from Region

AmusedToDeath · #1 (**permalink**) 06-21-2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

20 June 2008 Belgrade

Serbia is home to some 100,000 registered refugees from neighbouring Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, new data released today shows.

The data, compiled by the UN's refugee organisation and Serbia’s Refugee Commission and published today to mark International Refugee Day, shows that some six thousand of these refugees continue to live in collective centres in what are often described as appalling conditions. In addition, there are over 200,000 internally displaced people in Serbia from Kosovo.

Due to the large number of refugees, the UNHCR said that Serbia should pay special attention to the implementation of refugee rights and the regulation of their status.

Serbia has 55 collective centres where some families have been living, usually in one room, for over a decade. Many complain that their return, particularly to Croatia, has not been easy.

On Thursday, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic said it was his country’s duty was to facilitate the return of all refugees. Read more:

http://balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/11168/

Serbia’s President Boris Tadic has said that Belgrade, Sarajevo and Zagreb should put additional efforts in solving their refugee problem. He has said that the European Union membership for all Balkan countries would substantially contribute to the best solution for those people.

Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina signed the Sarajevo declaration in 2005 obliging them to find solutions for the return and reintegration of all refugees left homeless in the 1991-1995 regional wars.

The UNHCR said that due to the increase in the number of refugees across the world in the past two years, its offices in Serbia and elsewhere received 75,000 applications for refugee status in 2007 alone.

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/11185/

Quote:

With the outbreak out of war in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY), Serbia faced a serious refugee problem for the first time since the Second World War. Even before conflict broke out in the SFRY, people from certain republics had begun to flee to the territories whose population was dominantly of their own nationality, in fear of the impending war. With the escalating chaos, many of those who fled from other republics had no choice but to remain in Serbia and Montenegro. By the end of 1999 nearly 50,000 people had found refuge in those republics, with no realistic possibility of returning home.

The fighting in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina led to huge migrations, particularly of the Serbian and Montenegrin populations, who found refuge in their mother republics – Serbia and Montenegro.

Depending on the source of data, estimates on the number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) have varied from 350,000 to 800,000. Terrorist attacks by the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, the 1999 air campaign of the NATO alliance and the arrival of KFOR forces have led the non-Albanian population flee the territory of Kosovo-Metohija.

In cooperation with the UNHCR, a registration of IDPs from Kosovo-Metohija was carried out in the Republic of Serbia in the year 2000. The initiative continued after April 2000, as the non-Albanian population continued to migrate out of the territory. By July 2001, more than 200,000 IDPs have been registered in Serbia.

In April 2001, the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees, in cooperation with the UNHCR, again carried out a registration of refugees and others who had fled to Serbia because of the war. The first analyses of the data from July 2001 register 451,980 persons in Serbia. Of that population, 377,731 have refugee status, while 72,249 do not meet all the necessary conditions to acquire this status under international law. The greatest numbers of refugees are from Croatia (about 63%), while the percentage of those from Bosnia-Herzegovina has declined to 36% as refugees from the latter return to their homes in greater numbers than those contemplating return to Croatia, where the process is quite difficult.

Although it is in some cases possible to return, the majority of refugees and IDPs (60.6% of those from Croatia and 59.8% of those from Bosnia-Herzegovina) have opted for integration in The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

Within Serbia, there are 408 registered collective centers, accommodating 30,056 people. Of this number, 20,949 are refugees, while 9,107 are IDPs from Kosovo-Metohija. About 10,000 live in unregistered collective centers, while still others live with their relatives or friends, in their own houses and apartments or in rental housing.

The greatest numbers of refugees are housed in Vojvodina, Belgrade and in the municipalities of Loznica and Sabac.

The displaced from Kosovo-Metohija mainly reside in central Serbia, with the greatest concentrations in Belgrade, Kraljevo, Kragujevac, Nis, Smederevo, Krusevac, Leskovac, Vranje and Kursumlija.

Immediately after the cessation of armed conflict, it became clear that refugees not only had to be cared for in the short term, but a permanent solution to the problem needed to be found. There are three general outcomes for refugees:

1. Repatriation to the communities from which the refugees came.
2. Integration into the communities to which the refugees settled.
3. Emigration to a third country.

REPATRIATION

Both Annex 7 of the Dayton Peace Accord and the Agreement on the normalization of relations between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia grant refugees the right of return.

The priority of The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro is repatriation, considering this the most acceptable long-term solution. Carrying out this strategy requires implementation of previous guarantees of the international community and the governments of the countries refugees are returning to. Refugees must be accepted into their communities and provided conditions to live in security and dignity.

In April 1998, a protocol on the procedure for organizing the return of refugees to Croatia was signed between the governments of the FRY and the Republic of Croatia. The protocol gave the UNHCR the role of international coordinator, which would, pursuant to its mandate, assist in the mutual implementation of the agreed system. Some 7,550 refugees returned home under this arrangement, while 7,350 organized their own return to Croatia.

There is still no interstate agreement between The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina providing for an organized return of refugees. The idea that investing funds in the reconstruction of certain municipalities in Bosnia would encourage the return of refugees proved to be unsuccessful, as evidenced by the modest number of returnees. Major cities such as Sarajevo, Mostar and Tuzla, from which the greatest number of Serbs fled, have still not received the status of "open cities", which thus inhibits the return of a significant numbers of people.

INTEGRATION

Although repatriation is seen as the best permanent solution to the refugee problem, The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro respects the decision of the majority of refugees who have decided to make Yugoslavia their home.

As early as 1994 the Serbian Government and the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees began preparations for a programme for the permanent settlement of refugees in The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

In accordance with the above-mentioned Program, the Serbian government began construction of housing for refugees in Serbia in 1997. Significant budget funds were earmarked for that purpose. In the same year, the UNHCR initiated a similar programme in the FRY. This programme closely resembles that of the Serbian government, differing only in that the donor is the UNHCR, which provides funds for the construction of housing – while the state, namely municipalities where the construction takes place, provide for infrastructure and employment for one member of each refugee family.

The beneficiaries of this program have either already acquired or are about to acquire Yugoslav citizenship. Large families, the disabled and single mothers had a priority in the process of acquiring permanent residence.

So far, the program has been highly successful. Refugees have shown great interest in taking up permanent residence in The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. Furthermore, Serbian municipalities are prepared to provide residential buildings and arable land, as well as employment for members of refugee families. The limited funds available to the Serbian Government and the UNHCR are the single main obstacle slowing construction in these housing projects.

DEPARTURE TO A THIRD COUNTRY

One of the possible options for a permanent solution to the refugee problem is their departure to a third country. The greater number of those who had opted for emigration to a third country have done so through the International Organization for Migration and the UNHCR. Refugees mostly emigrate to Canada, Australia and the USA.

The Serbian Commissariat for Refugees will continue to work, within its means, on the processes of repatriation and integration of refugees, which it sees as the two most important approaches to the refugee problem in The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

http://www.arhiva.serbia.sr.gov.yu/cms/view.php?id=1017

AmusedToDeath · #2 (**permalink**) 06-21-2008, 05:00 PM

Serbia is the country with the largest number of refugees in Europe.

If Serbia was the "ethnic cleansor", then how come the only people ethnically cleansed in the area of Balkans is Serbian?

These data bring undeniable indirect evidence about the scale of propaganda and lies launched against Serbia in western media.

Adriano · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmusedToDeath

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/11185/

As early as 1994 the Serbian Government and the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees began preparations for a programme for the permanent settlement of refugees in The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.

http://www.arhiva.serbia.sr.gov.yu/cms/view.php?id=1017

Yugoslavia does not exist!!!

And the Serbian Colonists have been put to a stop.
This is sad news from Serbs, telling their people to go to Bosnia Croatia Montenegro and Kosovo, and complain like a little baby on a dictation of Belgrade.

Perhaps some day we'll learn to get along. I hope so.

AmusedToDeath · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriano

Yugoslavia does not exist!!!

And the Serbian Colonists have been put to a stop.
This is sad news from Serbs, telling their people to go to Bosnia Croatia Montenegro and Kosovo, and complain like a little baby on a dictation of Belgrade.

Perhaps some day we'll learn to get along. I hope so.

Refugees ought to return to their homes. We will never forget the 250,000 Serbs and other minorities you expelled from Kosovo, they are all over Serbia.

If they came back home, you wouldn't have 95%, would you?

Adriano · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmusedToDeath

Refugees ought to return to their homes. We will never forget the 250,000 Serbs and other minorities you expelled from Kosovo, they are all over Serbia.

If they came back home, you wouldn't have 95%, would you?

How can you be a refugee in your own state???
And even if Kosovo was only inhabited by 1% K Albanians, that still would not be called 1% Serbian land.

Do you honestly believe Serbs should be treated any better than the Nazis?
Main Kampf and Machiavelli were used and abused in the last colonisation of Europe by the Serbs. The sad part is you have no clue how Yugoslavia started by killers and finished the same way. Serbs are not the same any more.

Take it easy! 250.000....... man you dont even know what that number is haha

AmusedToDeath · #6 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 02:00 PM

Nice photo of Albanian prisoners... Were they executed?

Adriano · #7 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmusedToDeath

Nice photo of Albanian prisoners... Were they executed?

Well all of those prisoners had land and livestock that got confiscated while Serbia ethnically cleansed Kosovo. 400.000 deported to turkey and at least as many gone missing... Dont make me prove it because you will be cought red nosed again.

A bunch of old men pushed around with bayonets, the real civilised Servian army. Shows real character of Serbs of today too.

I dont blame you amused for your ignorance, i blame your forefathers that made war a glorious blind spot for your collective memory.
But images like that and comments like yours will stick for a little longer until there will be sufficient proof why Serbia should not exist any more. How many Slavic states do we really need in Europe? And how many of them took extermination techniques more seriously than the Nazis?? Only one and thats the sad Serbia.
While Albanians left you to retreat with out a harm, parading old men in belgrade was the the Serb"humane" thing to do, Instead of fighting the Turks???

But next time someone will humiliate your grandfather, we should joke about it too right??

AmusedToDeath · #8 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adriano

A bunch of old men pushed around with bayonets, the real civilised Servian army. Shows real character of Serbs of today too.

Well, you see, those Alboes on the photo were fighting FOR the occupier - Turkey. The first Balkan war of 1912 (and that is the year on the photo) was fought by a coalition of forces against the Turks - your allies.

It is so natural for every force to take prisoners in war, I can't see why you Alboes should be an exception. You were always (and still are) invaders and illegal aliens in this Slavic region of the world, you always took side with the occupiers, had they been the Turks, or the Hitler's SS division, or whoever...

Collaborators with the aggressor should be taken prisoners, tried and eventually shot or imprisoned after proving their guilt.

Kiwi · #9 (**permalink**) 06-22-2008, 09:13 PM

No one who killed anyone in that war is still alive today. I don't see the reason to dwell on it, or the events will be repeated every generation. I could hate Germans for crippling my great-grandfather in WWI, but it would only cause me more pain in the long run.

Recent history is harder to forgive and forget, because many of you may have had close relatives killed by the Milosevic regime, or the KLA. But I think, ignoring the immense personal pain which I can't claim to share, that this recent history can only be repeated if there is any desire for revenge on either side. I can't say for sure that I would feel the same way if my parents or siblings had died in the wars of the 90's, but I would like to think so.

The criminals of those wars must be brought to justice - people like Mladic and Ceku - but hating Serbians or Albanians as ethnic groups for what individuals did is not going to help the future generations.

Adriano · #10 (**permalink**) 06-23-2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmusedToDeath

Well, you see, those Alboes on the photo were fighting FOR the occupier - Turkey. The first Balkan war of 1912 (and that is the year on the photo) was fought by a coalition of forces against the Turks - your allies.

It is so natural for every force to take prisoners in war, I can't see why you Alboes should be an exception. You were always (and still are) invaders and illegal aliens in this Slavic region of the world, you always took side with the occupiers, had they been the Turks, or the Hitler's SS division, or whoever...

Collaborators with the aggressor should be taken prisoners, tried and eventually shot or imprisoned after proving their guilt.

Keep on writing your fairy tales. connecting the BW with SS??? Do you see the evidence???? Were are the Turks??? Kosovo in the Balkan Wars went from Turkish Turkish occupiers to Serb occupiers. And since than Serbia lost its Slav identity.It became butchers. But dont worry, your neighbours cant stand you, the world is full of you and your lies you cant even swallow yourself.
Now be a good serb and go and kill and rape little unprotected people, you might call that a moral victory. Because your arguments suck.

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