One decade ago, the phrase "ethnic cleansing" entered the active vocabulary of the OSCE and other actors in the international community, referring specifically to the tragic unfolding of events in Bosnia-Herzegovina. For many, ethnic cleansing evoked mainly those images of innocent Bosnian civilians, displaced from their homes, crossing menacing mountain passes and perhaps borders, in the hope of finding a modicum of safety on the other side.

Today, the situation appears much less severe, and one can point to successful rates of returns to Bosnia-Herzegovina and elsewhere in the Balkans. Fortunately, the majority of those displaced from last year’s conflicts in southern Serbia and Macedonia were able to return in a relatively short period of time. Still, my delegation views the situation today as far from satisfactory. In fact, the continuing problems associated with returns are a dark stain on the record of post-conflict recovery in the region, for which local leaders with nationalist inclinations are most responsible, especially in the Republika Srpska entity but also some parts of the Bosnian Federation, in Kosovo, and in Croatia.

According to figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are more than 1.1 million persons in Southeastern Europe today who are refugees or internally displaced persons. That is 1.1 million too many. More than 600,000 – consisting of people who fled Croatia, Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina – are in Yugoslavia. 140,000 of them fled from Bosnia, 225,000 from Croatia and 230,000 from Kosovo. In addition, there are 450,000 people in Bosnia-Herzegovina who remain internally displaced. Having been displaced for so long, many undoubtedly have effectively resettled and are unlikely to return. Nevertheless, the window should never be considered closed; everyone should have the opportunity to return if they so choose.

The United States welcomes the benchmarks for Kosovo adopted by the UN Security Council, including the creation of conditions for safe, sustainable returns and reintegration, as well as providing for the displaced population the information necessary to decide whether to return. There has been some increase in the rate of minority returns to Kosovo this year, with inflows finally overtaking outflows.

This is the beginning of progress. As the May 2002 OSCE-UNHCR report on minorities summed up, "Only when Kosovo’s minorities feel confident in their long-term future and when all of Kosovo’s displaced populations are able to exercise the choice to return to their homes, feeling assured of their safety and confident in their ability to access institutions and participate in social, economic and political life in Kosovo on a non-discriminatory basis, will it be possible to say that the situation of minorities in Kosovo is acceptable." As noted in the report, this includes the return of Albanians in areas where Serbs are a majority, as well as the return of Roma and Ashkaelia who are too often overlooked.

Bosnia-Herzegovina has seen some of the more positive developments in the region, both in numbers and in creating conditions for return. While more difficult regions of Republika Srpska have seen improvement, we deplore lingering nationalist extremists who continue to oppose positive change. Property claims and personal security remain as obstacles but have declined in their importance, leaving the longer-term challenges of housing reconstruction and employment as the most significant constraints on returns. My delegation urges Bosnia’s leaders to work with the international community in maintaining and stepping up this positive trend.

In Croatia, poor security and harassment as well as property issues at the local level have continued to plague returns, particularly of Croatian Serbs, despite cooperation at higher levels of government. Especially as more persons have been able to return to Bosnia-Herzegovina from Croatia, we hope that 2002 will end with demonstrable progress in returns to Croatia.

Southeastern Europe is not the only region of concern. The situation is actually similar in the three countries of the Caucasus, where the number of persons displaced from long-term conflict is also over one million. The conflict in neighboring Chechnya has similarly contributed to this trend, underscoring the urgency of addressing conflicts in the region and their root causes.

The United States is particularly concerned about reports that Russian Federation authorities have stepped up pressure on displaced Chechens in Ingushetia to return to Chechnya, giving the false impression that the situation in that region has been stabilized. Returns must be on the basis of choice and the creation of conditions suitable for return and recovery. Premature and forced returns cannot conceal the basic fact that secure and adequate housing does not yet exist in sufficient quantity in Chechnya to justify the mass return of internally displaced persons. Vulnerable populations should not be pressured into returning prematurely to what are de facto combat areas. According to a United Nations document, "reports from the region indicate that this relocation cannot be regarded as entirely voluntary. Furthermore, these reports indicate that some of the IDPs were very concerned about the security situation in Grozny and that living conditions in the temporary accommodation centers are not satisfactory." Mr. Moderator, these relocations violate provisions of the Lisbon Summit Document: "States will facilitate the return, in safety and in dignity, of refugees and internally displaced persons, according to international standards."

Finally, my delegation notes the situation in Central Asia, where there are also large numbers of refugees. The changes which have taken place in Afghanistan in the past year should, over time, alleviate the refugee burden in the region, and the opening of routes for supplying humanitarian relief has been beneficial. Experience has proven that respect for human rights, the creation of democratic institutions, and protection from arbitrary decisions, official corruption and criminal activity, would have a positive impact on those already suffering the burdens of displacement.