UNHCR AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SHOULD TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN RESOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF SERBS IN CROATIA

BELGRADE, November 29 /SRNA/ - The Association of Displaced, Endangered and Expelled Persons of Serbia has once again urged UNHCR and other international bodies to engage more concretely and more actively in resolving the numerous issues faced by displaced Serbs, as well as Serbs who have remained living in Croatia.

The Association emphasized that, to this day, there has been no visible improvement in their situation, nor progress toward addressing key problems. According to the Association, these problems include unresolved property and tenancy rights, including the return of confiscated homes and apartments, as well as administrative barriers in obtaining documents, citizenship, and other personal rights. It was noted that Serbs in Croatia also face difficult and slow return processes in many areas despite formal guarantees, as well as discrimination in employment, local administration, and access to public services. There is also an evident lack of institutional mechanisms for protecting minority rights, particularly in returnee villages. "There has been inadequate progress in the reconstruction of homes and infrastructure, which directly affects sustainable return," the Association stated. Its president is Ilija Nedeljković. The Association reaffirmed its commitment to legal advocacy, transparent work, and dedicated representation of all its members and compatriots who were forced to leave their homes more than 30 years ago. It reminded that UNHCR has clear obligations regarding protection, support for reintegration, preventing discrimination, and ensuring equal access to basic human rights and legal procedures - obligations that are crucial for achieving the rights of Serb returnees and displaced persons in Croatia.