UNMIK/PR/1538
PRISTINA - The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General (SRSG) Søren Jessen-Petersen today urged Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and IDP Associations to participate actively in the on-going returns efforts, which will allow them to influence the outcome of these processes.
In his meeting with members of IDP associations, the SRSG said that the Provisional Institutions of self-Government (PISG) and UNMIK, in active collaboration with IDP associations and minority groups, have already initiated the revision of the returns manual. “This will ensure direct participation of IDPs, the people most affected by the events and developments in Kosovo, in all aspects of the decision making process”, said the SRSG.
Complimenting the IDP associations for actively contributing to the recently concluded workshop on the new Strategy and Action Plan on Communities and Returns for Kosovo, the SRSG said that “the revised returns manual will incorporate a “rights-based approach” to returns policy, which will allow all displaced populations of Kosovo to make free and informed decisions”.
The SRSG supported the suggestions of the IDP associations to establish an IDP centre and permanent IDP associations’ presence in Pristina, which would ensure regular and qualitative IDPs participation, advocacy and information dissemination on central issues.
Welcoming this direct dialogue with the IDPs, the SRSG at the same time expressed his deep concern at Belgrade’s continued policy to urge Kosovo Serbs to boycott and now to leave the institutions in Kosovo.
“The participation of Kosovo Serbs in the institutions will ensure their rightful place in a multi-ethnic Kosovo”, said the SRSG.
