Refugees in Montenegro Seek Return to Kosovo

Montenegro's Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Predrag Boskovic, said on Thursday that at least 108 families, mostly from the Pec, Djakovica, Kline areas, wish to return to Kosovo in 2014 if the Montenegrin and Kosovo authorities can provide adequate conditions.

Boskovic stressed the readiness of the Montenegrin government to provide financial support to the returnees in terms of help with buying land in Kosovo .

“Displaced persons can choose the place of residence in Kosovo; it does not have to be the area where they lived. We are ready to assist their return in every way, their socialization in the territory of Kosovo, and even financial support," Boskovic said.

According to government data, around 11,000 refugees from Kosovo have the temporary status of "internally displaced people" in Montenegro. Over 3,000 are Roma living in a refugee camp near Podgorica in poor conditions.

In May 2011, the two governments agreed to aid the voluntary return to Kosovo of refugees now residing in Montenegro.

The process of returning began last year when 14 families with 64 members came back to Kosovo from Montenegro with the aid of a "full housing programme" – a house, grants to start a business, furniture and firewood.

Minster Boskovic announced that the government of Montenegro plans to build homes for displaced persons in the municipality of Niksic, and that similar projects are expected in the capital, which will help address the issue of displaced persons who want to remain in Montenegro.

Some 270 to 300 apartments are also planned for refugees from Kosovo.