UNHCR High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers, Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Erhard Busek and Refugee Return Initiative Chairman Soeren Jessen-Petersen, together with high level representatives from SEE countries decided today in Geneva, that refugee issues, the fate of displaced persons and the international communities support for democratic and economic development of the region ought to be interwoven, and that the time for emergency aid was over.

Such aid was much needed in the first years after the Dayton Accords were signed in 1995, and has yielded some satisfying results. After the launch of the Stability Pact brokered Agenda for Regional Action (AREA) for BiH, Croatia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 27 June 2001 the assessment is particularly promising. 127'350 out of 980'000 persons found solutions through return and integration. Property repossession in BiH has exceeded 50% of the submitted claims. Property repossession in Croatia has progressed significantly in the last 12 months. Regional dialogue and bilateral relations have evolved and a series of agreements have been signed and various joint declarations favouring the return of the displaced and recognition of their rights have been issued. Finally, the freedom of movement has improved.

The follow up catalogue of measures, called AREA II, which was launched in Geneva today, focuses on the sustainability of solutions for the displaced populations, which can only be achieved through full inclusion of returnees and locally integrating people in the economic and social recovery process. A major housing development programme and development of national social housing policies, as well as better access to self-employment and employment are key to this integration. The newly appointed Chairman of the Stability Pact Regional Return Initiative, Soeren Jessen-Petersen, will focus on the implementation of these measures. Jessen-Petersen was optimistic, that by the end of 2003 most financial and remaining legal and administrative issues and obstacles can be resolved and that the financing of this approach can be secured through public-private partnerships, support to self-assistance and bi-lateral development support.

Special Co-ordinator Erhard Busek underlined in Geneva that the Stability Pact will provide all the instruments at its disposal to bring the refugee return activities in line with the overall activities of the Pact to develop SEE economically, security-wise and in terms of much needed democratic institution building. He pointed out that in "international politics initiatives do not just happen, somebody has to push". This is the role of the Pact, and its typical value added in terms of providing a platform to develop policies, to share experiences on a regional level, to transfer know-how and to match the efforts of local authorities with international expertise and with donors for financial support.

Despite this change in the overall approach, humanitarian assistance is still required in SEE, especially for the 55'000 residents of Collective Centres. They represent the direst reminder of how humanitarian crisis conditions are prevailing 6 years after the war has ended. The destabilizing effect of this situation cannot be overstated and urgent support by the international community and local authorities is needed to resolve it.