UN DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES MARY ANN WYRSCH VISITS BIH

Sarajevo, 3 April 2003 - The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, Ms Mary Ann Wyrsch, is visiting BiH from 2-4 April. During the visit, she will meet with the BiH Ministry for Foreign Affairs as well as with senior members of the International Community. Ms Wyrsch will also visit returnees in Nisici, Hadzici, Bratunac, Srebrenica and Zvornik, refugees in the Breza Asylum Centre and displaced persons in Collective Centres.

"I am heartened by the fact that seven years after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement (GFAP), real and tangible progress in the return of BiH refugees and DPs has been achieved, with some 940,000 former refugees and DPs having returned to their pre-war homes and municipalities in BiH, including some 400,000 so-called minority returns, out of an estimated 2.2 million persons forcibly displaced during the war. Sadly, the BiH Government and the International Donor Community's support for reconstruction activities has not kept up pace with recorded return trends.
I am afraid that unless additional assistance is made available, the impressive momentum gained in the implementation of Annex VII of the GFAP may be stalled, leaving many of those forcibly displaced who still wish to return to their former homes without the much needed support to make their return sustainable", said Wyrsch.

A crucial element supporting returns is the Implementation of the Property Laws in BiH which is nearing completion in a concerted effort by the International Community together with local authorities. "Yet, a repossession ratio of 76%, seven years after the end of hostilities, still leaves more than 56,000 homes to be returned to their pre-war owners. The full implementation of the property repossession process remains thus of vital importance for the successful implementation of Annex VII of the GFAP", said Wyrsch.

The UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees is visiting the region for the first time since her appointment on 1 April 2001 to gain a first hand impression on progress achieved over the past years and tasks outstanding for her Office in BiH.