UNHCR welcomes the first joint statement on return by refugee officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina

In an unprecedented move today, top refugee officials from the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina made a joint statement expressing their commitment to the safe return of refugees and displaced people to Bosnia.

"Delivered after more than a year since the signing of the Dayton Agreement, this joint declaration by the governments of their commitment to facilitate the safe return of refugees and displaced persons, including returns to minority areas, is a breakthrough in the efforts to reconstruct peace and stability in the war-torn region," said Carrol Faubert, UNHCR's Special Envoy for Operations related to former Yugoslavia.

The statement was issued in Geneva at a Regional Meeting of Refugee Ministers and Commissioners of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia , organized by UNHCR. The participants included ministers of the governments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, its two entities: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, as well as representatives from Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The meeting was also attended by representatives of 14 asylum and donor countries, as well as international agencies active in the region.

Speaking on behalf of both entities, the Minister for Civil Affairs and Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Spasoje Albijanic, said the authorities will make joint efforts to facilitate voluntary returns to areas where returnees may become a minority. He also said they would support returns to the zone of separation - a sensitive 4km wide and over 1000 kilometre long strip of territory between the two entities.

The Regional Meeting of Refugee Ministers and Commissioners follows a one-day meeting held yesterday between representatives of asylum and donor countries and international agencies. The informal meeting focused on return related issues such as transportation, accommodation, material assistance as well as rehabilitation of housing to increase the absorption capacity. Based on information shared at the meeting, some 200,000 refugees are expected to return this year.