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At the Round Table on Reconstruction and Return in Central Bosnia Canton
arranged by RRTF in Travnik on 15 February, 1999 Chaired by Senior Deputy
High Representative Hanns Schumacher and attended i.a. by Governor Branko
Golub and deputy Governor Adnan Terzic, and other Central Bosnia Canton and
Herzegovina-Neretva Canton Officials, the following Joint Statement was
issued:
- A "Round Table" was held in Travnik to review return and
reconstruction in Central Bosnia Canton in 1998 and to discuss an outline
for reconstruction and return in 1999. It was noted that Central Bosnia
Canton, being the first Canton to adopt a Cantonal Return plan, now is the
first Canton to develop a strategy for implementation of the RRTF 1999
Action Plan adopted at the Peace Implementation Council in Madrid.
- Currently available data indicate that during 1998, a total of more
than 8000 minority returns out of a total of 16.000 retunees and relocatees
took place to Central Bosnia Canton. Applications for return received in
Municipal Return Offices in CBC currently total 54.247 persons. Return
trends in 1998 show that Bosniaks have on several occasions expressed their
willingness to return through self-organised returns. Croat returns have
mainly been driven by completion of rehabilitation projects. Despite various
assessment visits, the number of Serb returns has remained low,
approximately 130 persons.(For details, see Travnik Round Table Document 1.)
- Assessments of the return related reconstruction show that since the
signing of General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(GFAP), some 145 MDM translated into reconstruction and essential
infrastructure for some 10.000 housing units has been invested in the
territory of the Central Bosnia Canton. Some 70 MDM of reconstruction and
essential infra-structure needs for some 2.000 housing units, has been
deemed necessary to meet the needs elaborated in the Operational plan of the
First step of the first phase of the Cantonal Return Plan. (For details, see
Travnik Round Table documents 2.)
- In 1999, RRTF will support return and reconstruction along
identified so-called Axis of Return. RRTF will also have capacity to react
appropriately and timely to return movements outside the defined Axis of
Return. The Regional RRTF for BiH Centre will through its established Local
RRTF network co-ordinate international actors' efforts to accelerate
minority returns along the principles of the 1999 RRTF Action Plan. The
participants supported this approach and agreed that - apart from continuing
significant timely support for reconstruction - issues of vital importance
for accelerating returns in 1999 are:
- Security situation for returnees
- Establishment of Joint Municipalities in accordance with the
election results.
- Return of key citizens
- Education policies respectful of rights of all pupils that minimises
physical division
- Implementation of Federation and RS property legislation
- Increased job opportunities
(For details, see Travnik Round Table Document 3.)
- A Cantonal Return Security Committee will be set up as a working
group under the Cantonal Co-ordination Body for Returns for the purpose of
ameliorating the security situation for returnees. The prime aim of the
committee will be to share information on on-going and expected return
movements and to discuss related security measures. The Committee will have
its first meeting as soon as possible after the Travnik Round Table. Core
members of the Committee will be the Minister and Deputy Minister for the
Interior (chair), IPTF Advisor to the Ministry for the Interior and
representatives from SFOR. As the issues require, OHR, UNHCR and Displaced
Person and Refugee representatives will be invited.
- The meeting noted with satisfaction the existence of a working group
established by the Ministry for the Interior and UNMIBH aimed at furthering
return of minority police officers and urged it to seek material support
through the Cantonal Co-ordination Body for Return and the RRTF BHC.
- The implementation of Property legislation and misappropriation of
housing space will be monitored through the PMWG-CBC described in Travnik
Round Table document 4.
- The Operational Plan for Priority Return of Elected Officials
elaborated by OSCE will be given all necessary support. (See Travnik Round
Table Document 5.)
- The Central Bosnia Canton Return Plan shall continue to be the basis
at Cantonal level for the implementation of peaceful, orderly and phased
return to homes of origin. It was stressed that the so-called Operational
Plan serves as an important tool to indicate areas where returns can take
place immediately, but - as clearly stated in the basic principles enshrined
in Annex 7 of GFAP and the General provisions of the Central Bosnia Canton
Return Plan - the plan does not in any way bare returns from taking place in
a peaceful and orderly manner to areas other than those mentioned therein.
- Cantonal Officials committed themselves by 15 March 1999 to review
the Operational Plan in terms of:
- Inclusion of all constituent peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Taking into consideration applications for returns lodged at
Municipal Return Offices
- Taking into consideration returns that have already taken place in
1998
- Cantonal Officials committed themselves to accelerate efforts to
make the Co-ordination body for Returns fully operational before 28 February
1999. The members of the RRTF BHC Regional Planning Group will become active
participants of the Co-ordination body.
- All participants agreed that an effective and functioning Joint
Housing Assessment Team (JHAT) is a useful mechanism in the return process.
It was acknowledged that the information collected at the MRO's will have
its full use when the housing assessment will be completed by the JHAT's.
JHAT's will not only provide information on housing status, level of damage,
reconstruction needs etc. but will also enable the authorities to safeguard
the properties vacated by the DP's from looting and illegal occupation until
the return of the owners. Such a system will also provide a tool to address
the double occupancy problem.
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