RETURN OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Council of Ministers

Sarajevo, March 15, 2001

POSITION PAPER
of the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina
on RETURN OF REFUGEES AND DISPLACED PERSONS

This document has been prepared by the State Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, after a through exchange of views with home and foreign experts involved in the issues of displaced persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina and refugees from the country.
The purpose of the document is to provide a background information for those interested governmental and non-governmental bodies, institutions and individuals ready to assist the process of return in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The document provides all relevant aspects of the return problem, like: its origins and the magnitude; main features of the return process, already under way since the beginning of 1996 until the end of 2000 year; the assessment of the financial needs for the return target for the next three years and, particularly, for 2001 year. Also, it contains assessments of expecting contributions of the member countries and institutions of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). Finally, the document indicates modalities of funding the State program of return, co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation of the return process.
The OIC member countries have established the multilateral mechanism for the return process – The OIC Trust Fund for the Urgent Return of Refugees and Displaced Persons (B&H Trust Fund). Its Statute has been adopted in Kuala Lumpur, on 22nd of January 2001. Its working procedure will be elaborated and adopted by the Trustees of the Board.I
The origins and the magnitude of the refugee problem
The conflict of 1991 – 1995 in the Balkans resulted in dismembering of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the appearance of five new states, members of the OUN (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia -Serbia and Montenegro - and Macedonia).
The consequences of the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina are devastating in many aspects: huge physical destructions, painful effects of genocidal practice of ethnic cleansing, destruction of economic, scientific, cultural and sacral objects and huge human losses; housing fund greatly damaged and 2,1 million population expulsed from their homes of origin; hundreds of thousands of vulnerable categories.
Refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina live now in more then 40 states all around the world. The last figure of these persons is 617.350, while at the same time there are 518.250 internally displaced persons; so that the total number of refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina and displaced persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina counts some 1.135.000 persons in need of assistance for the potential return.
According to the recent return application data base, some 450.000 persons have expressed their will for unconditional and urgent return to their original places of residence.II
Key features of the return process
Until 31 December 2000 the return of 723.914 persons have been registered in Bosnia and Herzegovina, out of which 368.576 refugees and 355.338 displaced persons. The Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina participated with 575.719 returns (79,53%), while the total number of refugees in Republika Srpska is 148.195 (20,47%).
In the last two years (1999 and 2000) a better conditions for the return (political climate, security, freedom of movement) have been established. Yet, the increased willingness and readiness of a number of returnees to reach their homes have not been followed by the financial support. International donors, including the OIC member countries, have contributed greatly (governments, aid agencies, NGOs) to the process of return. But, there is still an important gap between the real and growing needs for the return and the readiness to finance this movement of hundred of thousands of persons to their homes.III
Three years of intensive return
- 2001, 2002 and 2003 years –
Registered number of displaced persons ready to return or forced, by social conditions, to return is about 450.000 persons. Additional number of returnees are refugees that have expressed eagerness to return to their homes of origin is about 300.000. So, the total number of returnees pressing on the government to enable their return is assessed on 750.000 persons. It is about 220.000 family returns.
Calculations on the basis of the five years of experience in the return process indicate that the "family package of return" costs from 25.000 to 40.000 DEM (12.500 US$ to 20.000 US$), depending on the magnitude of destruction.
The costs for the return of 220.000 families varie from 5,5 billions DEM (about 2,9 billions US$) to 8,8 billions DEM (about 4,2 billions US$).
So huge costs and so high number of returnees dictate gradual approach, although the humanitarian situation of these people is already alarming.
The State authorities, including the regional (entities) governments, as well as international factors involved, consider that the annual target of return could go up to 100.000 – 120.000 returnees, or about 28.000 – 30.000 family returns annually.IV
2001 year of urgent return
Since the conditions for the return has been vividly improved the last two years, it is jointly assessed to plan the return in 2001 on a level of 100.000 – 120.000 returnees or 28.000 – 30.000 family returns.
The programmes of return have been established on the country level and of both entities – Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska.
An initial programme of priority returns have been agreed on the level of State of Bosnia and Herzegovina for about 12.000 returns. New programmes, with the concrete additional projects, will be agreed and made rapidly on the State level in order to establish a set of programmes for the whole country, a transparent and better coordinated ones.
According to a thorough consideration of possible sources of financing of the envisaged return target of 100.000 – 120.000 returnees, in the course of 2001, the Government, assessed expected donations as follows:
a) Under the OHR (RRTF) coordination for about 8.000 family returns, or about 30.000 persons, the planned contribution is about 200 millions DEM (about 100 millions US$);
b) European Commissions, plus funding of the returns on the basis of Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, for about 8.000 – 10.000 family returns, or 30.000 – 40.000 persons, the planned contribution is about 30 – 40 millions DEM (about 15-20 millions US$);
c) Under the State’s and entities planning about 1.500 families, or about 5.500 persons are supposed to return; the planned resources are about 30 millions of DEM (about 15 millions US$).
Total number of returnees under the schemes (a), (b) and (c) is calculated at 18.000 family returns, or 65.000 returnees.
d) In addition, under "PLIP" /Property Legislation Implementation Plan/ (conditionality: those who occupy private property, or apartments of other persons must free properties to get their repaired houses, or apartments), it is expected to have at the disposal for returnees free housing space for about 5.000 – 6.000 families, or 15.000 – 20.000 returnees.
Grand total is: 23.000 family returns, or about 80.000 persons (returnees).
In conclusion, it is more or less assured financing of 80.000 persons (returnees), or about 23.000 families.
As said before, the target of return for 2001 year has been established at 100.000 – 120.000 persons.
The difference of 20.000 – 40.000 returnees, or 10.000 –13.000 family returnees need the new donors in order to help their return.

V
Expected contribution of the 56 members
countries or institutions of the OIC The IX OIC Summit in Doha decided to establish an OIC Trust Fund for the Urgent Return of Refugees and Displaced Persons (B&H Trust Fund).
The first donor conference, will be organised by the Government of the State of Qatar, as announced. The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina has prepared a basic document on the problem of refugees and displaced persons, to be considered by the OIC member countries and institutions before deciding on an OIC collective contribution for the B&H Trust Fund.
The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, fully subscribes all aspects of the decisions relating to Bosnia and Herzegovina, adopted at the IX OIC Summit in Doha.
Both key decisions of the OIC Summit, first relating to the return (B&H Trust Fund) and, second relating to the AMG-B&H – a body for joint consideration of mutual cooperation and assistance – have been fully understood by the Presidency and Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They are ready to create legal and other necessary conditions for implementing these decisions fully.
The State authorities and the authorities of both entities are grateful for friendly OIC member countries continuing assistance to the peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the ultimate aim to:
a) create conditions for more rapid and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons and
b) invest all efforts to revive economy and diversify its cooperation with the OIC member states, too, in the context of globalisation and democratisation processes.VI
Modalities for the OIC Trust Fund
The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina will create all necessary conditions for the operation of the Board of Trustees of the B&H Trust Fund and of its Management.
The Government is ready for transparent working relationship with the OIC partners in any area of joint interest.
For the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina
President
Dr Bozidar Matic