Dzakula: Removal of refugee status is ethnic cleansing

ZAGREB - The Serbian Democratic Forum (SDF) accused on Friday the Croatian government that its announcement that it would remove the refugee status from the people who fled Croatia during the 1990s war was intended to stop the return of Serb refugees and complete the ethnic cleansing.

"The announced decision by the government concerning the removal of refugee status from the people who fled Croatia would have long-term and serious consequences on that group of war victims, as well as on the entire position of the Serbs in Croatia," SDF head Veljko Dzakula said.

"The decision can only be seen as a measure meant to completely halt the return of Serb refugees and cement the situation caused by the war," he noted.

Instead of active and progressive measures to stimulate sustainable return and integration of Serbs, the Croatian government chose to stop the return and complete the ethnic cleansing of the Serbs from Croatia, he stated.

The decision would cause refugees from Croatia living in Germany, Sweden or Canada to lose healthcare and welfare benefits, the SDF said. The refugees in Bosnia-Herzegovina would lose the right to alternative accommodation, healthcare and free transport during their return, which is provided by the UNHCR.

The returnees would also lose the advantage of getting a discount when buying a home, which is based on the number of years they spent as refugees, Dzakula said.

According to the 1991 census, there were 568,000 Serbs in Croatia, while the most recent census puts their number at 186,000, he pointed out.

That means 400,000 Serbs left Croatia, and out of the 135,000 the records say went back, only 65,000 remained to live in Croatia, he stressed.

"IInstead of...