The Republic of Serbia ranks first in Europe in terms of the number of internally displaced persons. There are almost 230.000 internally displaced persons from Kosovo and Metohija (KiM), of which around 18.000 are displaced within Kosovo and Metohija. Out of the total number of internally displaced persons in Serbia outside of Kosovo and Metohija (209.112) based on the research of UNHCR and KIRS from 2011, 97.000 persons in need were identified, i.e. difficult social and economic situation, who need help. Less than five percent of internally displaced persons returned to Kosovo. According to UNHCR data, only 12.145 persons returned to AP Kosovo and Metohija from Serbia, and only about 4000 of them achieved a sustainable return (1,9 percent). Sustainable return was achieved predominantly in rural areas in the largest number of municipalities. Of the total number of returnees, over 70 percent are non-Serb returnees. Quarterly reports of the UN Secretary General on UNMIK, which are being discussed in the Security Council, indicate a worrying trend of reduced return of internally displaced persons.
REASONS FOR WEAK RETURN: The conclusion of the forums and meetings held on return issues is that the existing return model did not produce results and that the returns were not sustainable. The return process cannot be built only on the basis of the good will of the majority community, which is currently the case in Kosovo and Metohija. Internally displaced persons return, but only a small number of them remain. The fact is that the number of returns is still negligible and disputed. The main obstacles to sustainable return are the security situation, the lack of an effective mechanism for the protection and access to rights, the unresolved issue of property return, the inability to use destroyed, usurped residential and agricultural property, insufficient funds for the reconstruction and construction of houses and apartments for returnees, difficult access to public services and the possibility of using native language, absence of economic opportunities that would support return, complicated return procedures, lack of political will in the Province. Favoring individual versus group return is at work, and when it does happen, group return to multi-ethnic environments is favored and always includes the obligation of a balance component (benefit of the Albanian community). Also, the largest number of returnees returned spontaneously, independently. This is a clear indication of the performance and support for the return of the provincial authorities.
At the declarative level, there is political support from temporary provincial institutions to create preconditions for return, but at the same time, a significant number of municipalities, as executors of the current return, do not support the process. The latest events regarding the organized and announced visits of internally displaced persons to Djakovica and settlements in the municipality of Suva Reka on the occasion of the religious holiday of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary once again confirm that there is no responsibility of the recipient local community for the success of the "Go - See" visits and the return in general, that no progress has been made on issues safety and freedom of movement during visits, simplifying the process, reducing the drama that surrounds them, and that the community that receives them does not guarantee their safety and security at the same time. There is still a large list of people who could not participate in such a visit, and there are still locations that IDPs cannot visit today. Local authorities show no willingness to allow citizens to visit their homes, participate in various forums and return if they wish.
INTERNATIONAL ROLE: The international community is paying less and less attention to the issue of prolonged displacement, and donors are no longer allocating funds for it because they have shifted to a large number of old and new refugee hotspots in the world. In July of this year, UNHCR representatives once again expressed their willingness to help find a solution, including a two-track approach: return and local integration. It is logical that after 15 years and in the existing circumstances, most internally displaced persons do not want to return, their decision depends above all on the success in creating approximately equal conditions in the place of displacement and potential return.
This is important for Serbia because we do not want to accept the policy of fait accompli in forced population migrations. The importance of the issue of return was pointed out by the UNHCR in a statement dated June 13, on the occasion of the report by C. Bejani, the special rapporteur for the human rights of internally displaced persons, on his visit to Serbia. In the statement, there are clear references to both types of permanent solutions, including the creation of conditions for return and the problems that returnees face in terms of property and other rights in Kosovo.
If we consider only three key issues that affect the sustainability of the return process, namely respect for the legal and political framework of the return sphere, the worsening security situation in the returnee locations and locations where tensions between returnees and the receiving community prevail, a long list of locations is obtained where is impossible or difficult to organize and implement "Go see" visits of returnees (Gnjilane: Gornje Nerodimlje; Peฤ: ฤakovica, Loฤane, Deฤane, Grabanica; Priลกtina: Kajlovica, Slovinje: Kijevo (SO Maliลกevo), Dvorane (Prizren), Leลกane (Suva Reka) These locations are also mentioned in the Conclusion of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo.
