Serbian Government Office for Kosovo Deputy Director, Dusan Kozarev said that conditions for sustainable return of internally displaced persons from Kosovo over the last two decades were very bad, Serbian media reported.

Kozarev made these remarks on Friday, at the meeting of “Skopje Initiative” in Podgorica, supported by the UNHCR and OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

“The fact, there are still displaced persons wishing to return to Kosovo and Metohija, based on experience from my Office and results of the UNHCR poll implemented in 2016, oblige us all to provide conditions for sustainable return,” Kozarev said.

He also expressed the need for donors’ support to speed up the process and achieve concrete and sustainable results. Kozarev also mentioned that all those problems affecting return process earlier, are still present, including issues related to security, property and access to rights.

“Arrests of displaced persons and returnees based on complaints of their neighbours, who in most cases usurped their properties, 18 years after displacement indicate an organized activity aiming to obstruct return and repossession of the property,” Kozarev said.

He also added, arrests were carried out brutally, in front of other displaced persons and family members and had an intimidating effect on other potential returnees.

According to Kozarev, it is necessary that the OSCE, UNHCR and other relevant missions in Kosovo follow these cases, to find a systematic solution that would encompass sanctions for fake accusations, compensations to affected persons and adequate campaign at the local level in order for such a practise to stop.

This cold remove the impression that Pristina is offering support to the usurpers and regain the trust of displaced persons that their rights in Kosovo are protected, Serbian media reported.