First Donor Conference Trust Fund for the Urgent Return of Refugees and Displaced Persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina Doha, State of Qatar, May 15, 2001 STATEMENT by H.E. Dr Zlatko Lagumdzija, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Allow me at the outset to express the appreciation and deep gratitude of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to the State of Qatar, for convening the First Donor Conference of OIC member countrie's and organisations for the returnees in Bosniaand Herzegovina.

Our particular and great thanks we address to His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa At Thani, The Emir of the State of Qatar and the Chairman of the 9' Islamic Summit Conference for His personal engagement in initiating the first Donor Conference for the Solidarity Fund for refugees and displaced persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the capacity of the Chairman of the IX Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Countries - held last November in this very place, His Highness invasted particular efforts and together with'other leaders of Ole countries made this extremely important Conference possible, Today's meeting represents a telling proof of a lasting friendship and solidarity between Bosnia and Herzegovina and your states, through human understanding and compassion, and indeed a substantial material assistance stud by innocent victims of the Bosnian war.

It also represents an important encouragement for democratic forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina in their just struggle for peace, We thank the distinguished representatives of OIC member states and organisations for their presence, participation and support.
On this occasion we express our full solidarity with the people of Palestine in this very difficult moments.
We strongly believe in the success of, this great solidarity, endeavour directed towards hundreds of thousands of Bosnians dispersed throughout the world, expulsed and displaced from their homes of origin in the most brutal war after the Second World War.
Your governments and Your,people inspired by both the Charters of the Ole and of the OUN have been among the first to extend a helping hand in time of our great need.

Mr, Chairman,
Dear Bothers and Sisters,
Allow me to remind you that the decisions adopted at the IX OIC Summit at Doha, November 12-14, 20OO,, relating to, Bosnia and Herzegovina are multifaceted - political, economical and humanitarian. They are coming at the time when the new Government is tirelessly working in order to speed up the process of establishment of the rule of law and a full functioning of democratic institutions in Bosnia and'Herzegovina.
Sustainable economic and social, reforms, development based on the rule of law functioning of State institutions, and particularly advancing the sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, are our priorities and they can be achieved only if we succeed to introduce investment friendly environment in B&H.
The, Council of Ministers very much welcomes the establishment of the AMGB&H as our common mechanism for mutual co-operation which, will to a large extent help us overview the assistance programs, The adopted mandate for the AMG,8&H and established regularity of annual meetings ofthe AMGB&H will certainly improve the performance of this key mechanism.
The Statute of the Trust Fund for Urgent Return of Refugees and Displaced Persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that we adopted at the AMG meeting in April in Sarajevo, is a fundamental legal and political instrument in streamlining the assistance to the return process in the years to come.
On our side, B&H authorities - from top to the local level - have clearly defined our strategy, operational procedures and monitoring mechanisms to implement the whole return process.

Mr. Chairman,
Let me also use this opportunity to give you as realistic a picture as possible in the context of recent events in Bosnia an Herzegovina, And I will have to be frank with you, because I want the message that I pass on to you here today to be very clear.
Moreover because I myself was a witness and an object of the villain attack which obstructed last week's ceremony of laying the foundation mark of the Ferhat-pasha mosque in Banja Luka, and the information I give you today is first hand.
You probably know that media worldwide sent a report that I was wounded while I was coming to the Mufti's residence to witness rebuilding of one of the most beautiful mosques from the 15'h Century, I was personally managing the release of four hundred civilians until they all left the besieged Mufti residence. I was the last one who got out when they were all safe.
Yes, the situation,in Banja,Luka last 'Monday was turbulent, and it was disturbing for, the guest and participants at the ceremony, and it did threaten to send a wrong message, to returnees. Its organisers did try to take advantage of,this noble event and to thwart the return process.
Those who'organised it are the same people who destroyed that same mosque nine years ago. This time, they came back with a message that nothing has changed since thenand that their support is widespread.
They did temporarily prevent the holly event'that was planned, but they also failed. And they failed because they proved themselves wrong. Their support is neither, cohesive nor widespread. They are criminals, terrorists, enemies of our peoples and the state. They tried to destroy our road to normality and to show that they were right nine years ago When they were destroying, the old mosque.
This is no battle amongst Bosniacs, Serbs and Croats. This is not even a battle amongst Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox. This is the battle between good and evil. Between legal institutions of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and terrorists Who were destroying numerous mosques and religious monuments during the Bosnian war.
Today, Bosnia and Herzegovina is putting together functioning institutions. We will do everything to punish the organisers and prevent any such events in the future, Members of the Presidency and Council of Ministers immediately condemned the actions and violent behaviour of the extreme Serb nationalist groups,
On the joint session of both Houses of Parliament, representatives of political parties exclaimed that they will confront all attempts which hinder and endanger the peace building process, political stability, democratisation and human rights.
They accepted their own and the r ' esponsibility of relevant institutions for peace, tolerance, and mutual respect and understanding in our country, Our
institutions will not tolerate any destabilisation, ethnic or religious intolerance such as the one that culminated in Bania Luka.
The Parliamentary Assembly has requested that those who inspired, organised and executed crimes are identified and punished, particularly those indicted for war crimes.
We worked very hard to make those institutions of the system to function and we will not give up the "ownership" of this process. Obstacles created by individuals and groups should not and will not stop the movement of people to their homes of origin.
Wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina are over. We are making our state stand on its own two feet, and this is ' the, message we want to give those who plan to return to B&H and those who will assist them in this process.
The return process is getting strength and supporters every day, Much support will be needed from the international community, and as far as refugees and, returnees are concerned, help and assistance from your countries in particular will have a major impact on the overall positive process.
Now, we have about half a million persons ready to return. The next three years should be a period of intensive, broad and sustainable return. For 2001, we planned to assist the return of about 100 000-120 000 persons,
Having agreed with international donors to assist about 70,000 - 80,000 returnees, we came to a conclusion to address Your friendly countries to join other donors in a collective effort to reach the planned target,
We are ready and committed to maintain and improve all modes of cooperation with your governments, based on mutual interests. We want Bosnia and Herzegovina to become your partner country.
For this reason we prepared a urgent and minimum programme of return of about 20,000 individuals. This programme is submitted to your kind consideration today at this Conference. We would greatly appreciate your first reactions and we are ready to offer a response, to any questions raised here.

Mr. Chairman,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We believe that having in mind the great importance of this common project it has to be properly organised, transparent and fully accountable. We have agreed to organise the process of implementation with the full control of the OIC representatives - from decision making on projects through monitoring and evaluating the whole activities of the Fund.
OIC Ministerial conference will be annually informed about the Fund's activities. The AMG-BIH will regularly examine the work of the Fund. And, finally, next OIC Summit will have an opportunity to asses the performance of the Fund and decide about its future.
The overall process will be fully transparent in order to avoid any potential abuse and to be sure that your generous donations fully come to the end users who are in real need for help.
We must establish conditions for decent life of our citizens. The only way to do this is to make the 'most vulnerable categories in B&H - refugees and displaced persons - a productive part of our society, and thus contribute to the overall reconstruction of B&H.
It makes me very happy to be able to bring into your knowledge, dear friends, that only now, in this particular moment, also political conditions for the return of all the persons to their homes from which they were brutally expelled with no reason (bigairi hak), are achieved.
With your contribution to the Trust Fund you are, together with us, participating in the building of the institutions of our country which is going to grow into a strong factor of security, peace, co-operation, human rights, and economic prosperity in the region.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, allow me to once again express our sincere satisfaction with, this exceptional opportunity to meet all of you. We are' convinced that meetings like this one can only reconfirm political will to preserve and upgrade our relations.
Now we are entering a decisive time for the future of peace and prosperity for the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In, that way your urgent and generous help has no alternative.
I humbly beg the Almighty Allah to help us enforce our solidarity and to contribute for the strengthening of the world peace,

Thank You all.
Es-selamu alejkum we rahmetullahi we berekatuhu.