BALKAN REFUGEES AND HUMANITARIAN ISSUES DISCUSSED IN VATICAN

VATICAN CITY, APR 8, 1999 (VIS) - Made public yesterday afternoon was a communique with the intervention of the Holy See at the April 6 meeting in the Vatican of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Humanitarian Issues Working Group.

Fr. Michael Blume, S.V.D., an official of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, read the intervention for the delegation. Written in English, it was divided into a brief introduction and seven points.

The first point expressed "the deep admiration of this delegation for the governments and municipalities of countries neighboring Kosovo and for members of so many organizations, who have generously and selflessly responded to this emergency. Few people could have anticipated its extent. Yet with the resources available, they are involved, often heroically, in clothing, sheltering, nourishing, and healing. Many families in these same countries likewise deserve our deep respect and support, for they have welcomed refugees into their own homes, often at great cost to themselves."

Point two of this intervention brought up several areas of concern: "Protection: Humanitarian action, however, will have little long-lasting effect unless accompanied by protection. This delegation is thus very concerned about the safety of the refugees and even of those remaining in Kosovo. It is further preoccupied by reports on the following questions which, if verified, will require special attention: the disappearance of unarmed Albanian Kosovar men, the mining of some border areas, the confiscation of documents of those leaving Kosovo, with the risk that they will become stateless.

"A further protection issue concerns the quality of human life of those protected, which will become evident once the present emergency is more under control. Spiritual and psychological traumas need healing. The handicapped, the aged, and other particularly vulnerable people need special attention. Many families have been deeply wounded with the loss of a spouse and other members."

The Holy See intervention closed in proposing "the following points for the consideration of this meeting:

"A humanitarian corridor: Two days ago, on Easter morning, the Holy Father publicly appealed to the authorities of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to permit the opening of what he called 'a corridor of hope', so that aid can reach the populations amassed along the border of Kosovo. We hope that all governments and organizations involved in the area will heed this plea.

"International observers: This delegation further urges measures to bring international observers back to Kosovo, both for an eventual peace process and for assuring residents of Kosovo that reliable reporting of events reaches the wider international community.
"Durable solutions for refugees and exiles: While the offers of several countries to accept quotas of refugees from Kosovo are certainly heartening, it is not clear how many refugees will opt to resettle or find temporary protection in a far-off land. The hope of many for a quick return in freedom, security and dignity needs to be tempered by reports suggesting widespread destruction, insecurity and increasingly strained ethnic relations. This will not change quickly. If exile becomes a long-term fact, then the problem of third country resettlement or local integration into their host country arises. We believe it is worthwhile preparing for this possibility and deliberately involving the refugees themselves in discussions concerning their future, especially when it is a question of being transported elsewhere or where the unity of the family is concerned.

"Help for the countries hosting the refugees: ... Besides the poverty of these countries, they live with their own delicate ethnic balance, which the influx of large numbers of ethnic Albanians is perceived as disrupting. It is in the interest of all to assure that such a disruption does not happen. The importance at this moment of generous investment in and direct aid to these countries cannot be underestimated."

Fr. Blume closed with words of Pope John Paul: "I urgently ask that everything be done so that peace can be established in the region and that the civilian populations can live in fraternity on their land. In response to violence, further violence is never a way for the future to exit from a crisis. It is thus fitting to silence arms and acts of vengeance in order to engage in negotiations that oblige the parties ... to reach as soon as possible an agreement that will respect the different peoples and diverse cultures."

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