First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic talked today with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons Chaloka Beyani, about the issue of the internally displaced persons from Kosovo and Metohija.
Minister Dacic expressed his satisfaction at the fact that the Special Rapporteur took interest in the resolution of issues relating to the internally displaced persons from Kosovo and Metohija, having in mind his previous visit to the Republic of Serbia, in 2013. The Minister also pointed out that, unfortunately, due to the lack of basic conditions for sustainable return, the number of returnees to the Province is still frustratingly low, which we regularly highlight at the meetings of the United Nations Security Council devoted to the work of UNMIK. The Minister underscored that, in a situation of the unfolding migrant and refugee crisis, and the settlement of issues relating to the refugees from the region, Serbia’s relevant institutions have for years been investing extraordinary efforts to provide all forms of assistance to persons from Kosovo and Metohija in protracted internal displacement, including the housing solutions for those who opt for integration.
Minister Dacic pointed to the importance that Serbia attached to the United Nations and welcomed cooperation with the UN agencies operating in Serbia, with which we would maintain our joint work on the settlement of issues concerning internal displacement.
Special Rapporteur Chaloka Beyani reaffirmed the need for creating conditions for reaching durable solutions for internally displaced persons, including their return and integration. It is necessary to ensure greater engagement in areas of safety and security of returnees, as well in the area of property rights exercise on the part of IDPs. The Special Rapporteur commended the fact that the Republic of Serbia possessed the structures and institutions dealing with the settlement of displacement issues. He also pointed to the importance of the process of negotiations on Serbia’s EU accession, Chapter 23 in particular, as well as to the importance of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on the resolution of the issue of internal displacement.