Through the OSCE-funded "Winter Relief 2004" project, the Vukdragovic returnee family were able to repair the roof of their wooden house and setup electrical installations. The OSCE assists refugees overcome the first hurdles after they return. (OSCE)
The biggest obstacle Branko Popovic and Stojan Cabraja faced in returning to Croatia after living as refugees was the lack of access to adequate housing. (OSCE)
The "Sara" pizzeria in Korenica was one case the OSCE free legal aid projects worked to resolve in 2004. The legal owner, Serb refugee Jovan Rapaic, finally repossessed his house on 24 February 2005. (OSCE)
A documentary series on refugee return, funded by the OSCE Mission to Croatia, was aired on Croatian television in March 2004. "Somebody's Land" portrays the lives of Croatian Serb and Bosnian Croat refugees in the war-affected areas of Croatia. (SDF)
OSCE Secretary General Jan Kubis visited the Dalmatian region of Croatia with Development Minister Bozidar Kalmeta and Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul (left to right) to become acquainted with refugee return issues, 9 March 2004. (OSCE)
Obstacles to refugee return to Croatia include, amongst others, destroyed houses and disadvantaged treatment of ethnic Serbs in war crimes trials. (OSCE)
Obstacles to refugee return to Croatia include, amongst others, destroyed houses and disadvantaged treatment of ethnic Serbs in war crimes trials. (OSCE)
Refugee return, property restitution and reconstruction are some of the key issues the OSCE Mission to Croatia addresses in the town of Knin. (OSCE/Slavka Jureta)
"Pogledi" (Viewpoints) is an OSCE-funded joint publication by Croatian Serb and Bosnian Croat magazines which addresses housing and refugee questions. (OSCE)
Elderly people represent the largest returnee population in Croatia. Widespread unemployment, difficulties in repossessing property, bureaucratic hurdles are the chief problems still deterring a large scale return of refugees. (OSCE/Alessandro Fracassetti)
Amb. Becker, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia
(centre) discusses
refugee issues with Tonino Picula, Croatian Foreign Minister (left),
and Tomo
Aracic, President of the Croat Settlers' Union (right), Knin, 19
March 2002. (OSCE)