Assistant Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Batistić Kos headed a Croatian delegation at the 65th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee, held from 29 September to 3 October in Geneva.
“It is important to keep the African humanitarian crises on the agenda and maintain the leading role of the UNHCR as a long-term partner of the countries facing humanitarian crisis. Governments have primary responsibility in finding sustainable solutions in order to end the wave of new displacements, which have a negative effect on the development of society,” said Batistić Kos speaking at a High-Level Segment dedicated to strengthening the international solidarity and local refugee capacities in Africa.
“It is also crucial to push forward the reconciliation process, preserve human rights in the face of crisis and protect refugees from sexual violence and forced recruitment, notably among children,” the assistant minister said. In regard to the issue of illegal migration, Batistić Kossaid it was necessary to make additional efforts to eliminate its causes in the Middle East and Africa in order to save human lives.
In her speech at the general discussion, Batistić Kos underlined the UNHCR’s recommendation to terminate the refugee status for persons from Croatia as a sign of progress in resolving the refugee situation in the region. “The UNHCR’s recommendation served as an instrument of ensuring sustainable solutions and offered the countries in the region an opportunity to confirm dedication to their consistent implementation. Displaced persons were given a free choice of local integration or voluntary repatriation.”
Batistić Kos also pointed out the successful implementation of the Regional Housing Programme in Croatia, hopeful that other countries in the region would soon follow suit. She recalled the unprecedented floods that had hit the region in May, during which Croatia received refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina.