Transcript of the International Agency’s Joint Press Conference at CPIC

Subject: JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE – 20 February 2003

1.       The following attended the regular Press Conference held at the CPIC at 11:30 hours on Thursday 20 February 2003:

2.       Twenty-four members of the media including two television crews attended the conference.

3.       The transcript of the questions and answers is attached.

Mario Brkic – OHR

No statement.

Urdur Gunnarsdottir – OSCE

The OSCE Head of Mission, Ambassador Robert M. Beecroft and the Acting Head of the UNHCR in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Udo Janz, will be meeting with the respective OSCE and UNHCR Croatia missions from Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro in Zagreb tomorrow to discuss a joint action plan, which addresses the problems of displaced Croatian Serbs.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is particularly affected by this situation as 23,000 Croatian Serbs are currently displaced within its borders, some of which are illegally occupying property.

Current Croatian Laws do not make adequate provision for displaced Serbs and others to either reclaim or receive compensation for private or social property owned prior to the war.  This constitutes a serious obstacle to property law implementation throughout the region.

The joint action plan declares OSCE and UNHCR’s uniform commitment to ensure that all constituent peoples throughout Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro are able to return, reclaim, repossess or be compensated for private or socially owned pre-war property.

On Monday and Tuesday, Ambassador Beecroft will be in Banja Luka, meeting with newly elected officials.  His focus will mainly be on education and return related issues as well as military affordability. Ambassador Beecroft will be meeting with RS president and vice-presidents and the RS Prime Minister amongst others.

Media advisory will be issued tomorrow.

Bakir Jalovcic – UNHCR

Sarajevo, 20 February 2003 – Udo Janz, Acting Chief of Mission for UNHCR in Bosnia and Herzegovina met yesterday with the President of the Jewish Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Jakob Finci. Meeting with Mr Finci was a part of the series of meetings between UNHCR Acting Chief of Mission and the highest religious authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to exchange views on progress made over the past years in the return of refugees and displaced persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Meeting with the Dabrobosnian Metropolitan Nikolaj is scheduled for the next week.

Lieutenant Commander Yves Vanier – SFOR

No statement.

Questions and Answers

Q: Nick Hawton –BBC

Where is the EUPM?  Does anyone know where the EUPM are today?

A: Urdur Gunnarsdottir – OSCE

The spokesman is in Preidor and said he would not be able to make it time.

Q: Nick Hawton –BBC

So there’s no statement from them obviously?

A: Urdur Gunnarsdottir – OSCE

I don’t think so.