Return of Croatian refugees and displaced persons
Motion for a Recommendation
Doc. 7818
2 May 1997
presented by the Earl of DUNDEE and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it |
1.The Parliamentary Assembly is concerned by the situation of the some 350 000 refugees from Croatia and some 140 000 displaced persons within that country.
2.The Assembly recalls its Recommendations 1297 (1996) and 1301 (1996) calling for the voluntary, gradual and orderly return of refugees and displaced persons as essential to the reconstruction process, while recognising that the lack of housing and other infrastructures, the political instability, the inter-ethnic hostility and the continued threat of human rights violations make rapid, large-scale return impossible in the near future.
3.The Assembly notes that the safety, human rights and equality of treatment of all returnees have been guaranteed by the Croatian authorities.
4.The Assembly takes the view that Croatian villages and municipalities whose authorities are willing to encourage the return of refugees and displaced persons of all ethnic groups could serve as model "open communities" to which priority funding for social, education and economic reconstruction projects could be channelled.
5.Such returning refugees and displaced persons should be given financial support, including the facility of subsidised bank loans, so that people returning can themselves undertake construction projects.
6.The Assembly therefore recommends that the Committee of Ministers support this concept and invite the Croatian Government and the governments of other member states to do likewise.
Signed: (1)
Dundee, United Kingdom, EDG
Billing, Sweden, EDG
Brasseur, Luxembourg, LDR
Brennan, Ireland, LDR
Busic, Croatia, EPP
Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL
Chyzh, Ukraine, UEL
Din�er, Turkey, SOC
Filimonov, Russia, UEL
Iwinski, Poland, SOC
Junghanns, Germany, EPP
Kar�s, Poland, LDR
Laakso, Finland, UEL
M�sz�ros, Hungary, LDR
Sincai, Romania, SOC
Volodin, Russia, UEL
Note: 1SOC: Socialist Group
EPP: Group of the European People's Party
EDG: European Democratic Group
LDR: Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group
UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
NR: Not registered