Commissioner Ex Yu
European institutions failed to protect people in the former Yugoslavia from ethnic cleansing and other war atrocities in the 1990s. The return to normalcy has been slow and major obstacles still remain. However, there are now grounds for some hope – which gives Europe a second chance to offer constructive support, says Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in his latest Human Rights Comment published today.
Key political leaders in the area have shown moral leadership and initiated a process towards reconciliation and peace. The next step will be a meeting in Belgrade next week between ministers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia to discuss durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
The forthcoming meeting in Belgrade has been under preparation for the past year and a half. The four governments have worked together to design a joint programme, one aim of which is to provide a housing solution for those most vulnerable and in greatest need. They have also agreed to resolve the issue of civil status documentation for refugees and IDPs – an acute problem for some, and not least for many displaced Roma.
These efforts will require extra funding. It is estimated that some 500 million Euros will be needed over a five year period. European institutions should realise the importance of this opportunity to repair the war damages and invest in peace. (more...)
Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Council of Europe
Croatia and the Council of Europe