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Bosnian Croats Block Muslim Refugees Returning to Stolac
SARAJEVO, May 28 (Reuters) - Bosnian Croat authorities in
southern town of Stolac on Tuesday prevented a group of 200
Muslim refugees from visiting their home town in another blow to
the Dayton peace accord, the United Nations said.
"We regret that the Croats are preventing the Bosniaks
(Muslims) from Stolac to go and visit their houses, while under
the Dayton accord they have not only freedom of movement but
also the right to return to their homes," U.N. spokeswoman
Ariane Quentier said. "There is no freedom of movement and the fact that today's
visit has been cancelled is a major step backwards," Quentier
said.
The Dayton agreement, which ended the 43-month old war last
December, envisages freedom and safety of movement across what
were meant to be purely porous administrative borders.
But in practice many local nationalist authorities have
violated the concept, blocking members of rival ethnic groups
from travelling through their areas.
In retaliation for the latest frustration, the 200 Muslims,
now living in Mostar, in turn blocked the road to Stolac near
the headquarters of Spanish peace force troops.
Croat authorities in Stolac argued that Tuesday's visit fell
outside an earlier deal that allowed hundreds of Muslims to
visit their homes since Saturday.
Radoslav Lavric, a local Croat official, said some 600
Muslims have been allowed to visit their homes over the past
three days and the trips took place "without an incident."
He said he considered the deal fulfilled and that no more
visits would be allowed.
But Quentier insisted those visits were unusual events.
"The visits that have been taking place during the last
three days were obviously exceptional cases with exceptional
security measures," she said.
Bosnian Croats and Muslims in 1994 ended a 10-month
territorial war and form an alliance to fight against Serb
supremacy. Their shaky federation is a vital prop of the Dayton
deal.
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Berserkistan, May 28 · 40,000 Refugees Have Returned to Bosnia
Berserkistan, Refugee: Wandering Bosnia Without a Home by Chester King Vega
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