FM Alert, Vol. II, No. 15
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Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1998 11:36:13 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: FM Alert, Vol. II, No. 15
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Justin Burke <[email protected]>
FM Alert, Vol. II, No. 15
FM Alert, Vol. II, No. 15
CROATIA TAKES STEP TO PROMOTE RETURN
The Republic of Croatia has developed a procedure designed to
facilitate the return of refugees. Croatia also pledged to step up
negotiations with its neighbors to establish a regional framework for
repatriation. Croatia has already signed an agreement on refugee
return, along with an implementation protocol, with the Muslim-Croat
Federation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Talks on similar implementation
agreements are underway with representatives of the Federal Republic
of Yugoslavia and Republika Srpska. Croatia's commitment to developing
a return framework marks an important step in the ongoing effort to
facilitate repatriation across the region. In a statement outlining
its return procedures, the Croatian government pledges to remove legal
obstacles to return by repealing discriminatory legislation affecting
the Danube region and elsewhere, implementing validation and amnesty
regulations, and soliciting applications for citizenship and return at
consular and diplomatic offices. The government statement details the
process by which the necessary documents for return may be acquired.
Croatia's agreement to work with other states in the region to form
bilateral agreements on return, especially in regard to property
rights, directly addresses an issue of major concern in the former
Yugoslavia. "For successful implementation of the return plan, the
Croatian government expects and will seek required material help from
donor countries," the statement says. The Forced Migration Projects
has promoted a regional approach on citizenship and property rights
issues in order to encourage the voluntary return of refugees and
displaced persons.
(For background information see FM Alerts of March 13 and January 23,
1998).
UN PEACEKEEPERS IN ABKHAZIA?
The head of Georgia's parliament indicated that the Transcaucasus
nation may seek the deployment of a Bosnian-style United Nations
peacekeeping force in the separatist region of Abkhazia. Efforts are
currently deadlocked in the attempt to reach a political settlement on
Abkhazia's status. A political settlement is needed to facilitate the
return of thousands of displaced persons, most of them ethnic
Georgians. Georgian officials blame the stalemate on the Abkhaz
officials' reluctance to compromise on their demand for independence.
Russian officials, meanwhile, say both sides are inflexible. "Perhaps
a Bosnian model (of a peacekeeping force) is needed. We must make
clear to the separatists that there are certain limits if they refuse
to compromise," said Georgian parliament chief Zurab Zhvania. "Without
international pressure there would be no incentive to compromise."
Zhvania made the comments during a visit to New York, where he met
with UN officials. A CIS peacekeeping force, along with a UN observer
mission, are presently in Abkhazia. Georgian President Eduard
Shevardnadze has sought expand the deployment of CIS peacekeepers to
the entire Gali region. Currently CIS forces are restricted to a
roughly 7-mile-wide security zone along Abkhazia's border. This
redeployment would be followed by repatriation of displaced Georgians.
The proposals, however, have so far failed to win the support of
Russia. Zhvania warned said the potential for unrest and violence was
increasing. "For us, it is becoming more and more difficult to explain
to people why they cannot go home," he said. UNHCR and IOM are seeking
just over $11 million in 1998 for activities in Georgia in connection
with follow-up to the CIS conference on migration-related issues,
including promoting repatriation in Abkhazia. The Forced Migration
Projects has proposed that a UN civilian police force be deployed to
enhance security for repatriating people.
(For more information see FM Alert of August 1 and August 22, 1997).
EARLY WARNING GROUP STRATEGIC PLAN DUE OUT IN MAY
A consortium specializing in early warning aims to develop into an
independent operating entity by October. The Forum on Early Warning
and Early Response (FEWER) plans to issue a report in May containing
its guidelines for further development. The report arises out of
meeting held in March in Brussels, co-sponsored by Fewer and the
European Commission. Donor interest has so far met expectations,
according to FEWER, with substantial support coming from the
governments of Sweden and Denmark, and the US-based Winston
Foundation. FEWER brings together international and nongovernmental
organizations, along with academic institutions, in an effort to
provide early warning analysis to policy makers. The initiative was
developed in September 1996, and established a secretariat, currently
based in London, in June of 1997. The report to be issued in May will
also contain a summary of discussions on early warning and early
responses to potential emergencies in the Great Lakes region of Africa
and the Transcaucasus region of Eurasia. The Program of Action,
adopted at the 1996 CIS conference on migration-related issues,
contains provisions on promoting early warning. The FEWER effort,
however, does not fall directly under migration-conference follow up.
(For additional information see the May 1997 issue of the Forced
Migration Monitor).
For more information contact:
The Forced Migration Projects
400 West 59th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10019
tel: (212)548-0655
fax: (212) 548-4676
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.soros.org/migrate.html
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