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Return plan for Balkan refugees
Madelaine Albright meets Milorad Dodik
A new policy that will allow tens of thousands of people who fled conflict in the Balkans to go home has been announced by senior Croatian and Bosnian Serb politicians.
The announcement came after the officials met American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in the Bosnian Serb capital, Banja Luka.
Mrs Albright, Bosnian Serb Premier Milorad Dodik and Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula agreed a declaration that would enable all refugees to return to their former homes.
It is to be submitted to both governments for approval within three months.
As a sign of goodwill, it was agreed that 4,000 Bosnian Croat and Croatian Serb refugees would be allowed to return home within the next three months.
The announcement came after the officials met American Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in the Bosnian Serb capital, Banja Luka.
Mrs Albright, Bosnian Serb Premier Milorad Dodik and Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula agreed a declaration that would enable all refugees to return to their former homes.
It is to be submitted to both governments for approval within three months.
As a sign of goodwill, it was agreed that 4,000 Bosnian Croat and Croatian Serb refugees would be allowed to return home within the next three months.
 We are taking another step away from past madness  |
Madelaine Albright |
Both ethnic groups have fled wars in the region during the past decade.
About 30,000 Croatian Serbs are in the Serb part of Bosnia and 70,000 Bosnian Croats are in Croatia, according to United Nations figures.
Ethnic hatreds and bureaucratic obstacles have delayed any large-scale return, particularly under previous Bosnian Serb and Croatian governments, which opposed ethnic reconciliation.
Few details of how the current governments will encourage refugees to go back were immediately available, but Croatia is to open a consulate in Banja Luka and appoint a consul to ease the process.
Before leaving on a flight to Brussels, Mrs Albright said she enthusiastically welcomed the agreement.
She said the United States would provide $2m for the reconstruction of 100 homes on each side of the border.
"We are taking another step away from past madness," she said.
Earlier, Mrs Albright said Mr Dodik and Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic - both at odds with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic - served as examples for long-term stability in the region.
She spoke after separate meetings with the two.
Mr Dodik has agreed to support the Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian war in 1995 and commits all sides to ethnic reconciliation and democracy.
Mr Djukanovic is trying to democratise Montenegro, Serbia's partner in the Yugoslav federation.
He has said he will pull his republic out of Yugoslavia if opposed by Mr Milosevic.
Mrs Albright said Mr Dodik showed determination for economic reform and ethnic tolerance, "setting an example in the region for others, most particularly for Serbia, to follow."
She praised Mr Djukanovic as "another courageous leader."
"It is.. leaders like this, along with opposition leaders inside Serbia itself, that give hope for long-term peace in the region," she told reporters.
She also announced $7m in aid to the Serb part of Bosnia.
About 30,000 Croatian Serbs are in the Serb part of Bosnia and 70,000 Bosnian Croats are in Croatia, according to United Nations figures.
Ethnic hatreds and bureaucratic obstacles have delayed any large-scale return, particularly under previous Bosnian Serb and Croatian governments, which opposed ethnic reconciliation.
Few details of how the current governments will encourage refugees to go back were immediately available, but Croatia is to open a consulate in Banja Luka and appoint a consul to ease the process.
Before leaving on a flight to Brussels, Mrs Albright said she enthusiastically welcomed the agreement.
She said the United States would provide $2m for the reconstruction of 100 homes on each side of the border.
"We are taking another step away from past madness," she said.
Earlier, Mrs Albright said Mr Dodik and Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic - both at odds with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic - served as examples for long-term stability in the region.
 Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic |
Mr Dodik has agreed to support the Dayton Accords that ended the Bosnian war in 1995 and commits all sides to ethnic reconciliation and democracy.
Mr Djukanovic is trying to democratise Montenegro, Serbia's partner in the Yugoslav federation.
He has said he will pull his republic out of Yugoslavia if opposed by Mr Milosevic.
Mrs Albright said Mr Dodik showed determination for economic reform and ethnic tolerance, "setting an example in the region for others, most particularly for Serbia, to follow."
She praised Mr Djukanovic as "another courageous leader."
"It is.. leaders like this, along with opposition leaders inside Serbia itself, that give hope for long-term peace in the region," she told reporters.
She also announced $7m in aid to the Serb part of Bosnia.
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