Yugoslavia: Information on the situation of Serbs from Croatia or Bosnia in Serbia, particularly in Belgrade
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | YUG15869.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Yugoslavia: Information on the situation of Serbs from Croatia or Bosnia in Serbia, particularly in Belgrade, 1 November 1993, YUG15869.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acf64.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Reports put the number of refugees in Serbia from the regions of conflict in the former Yugoslavia at more than 600,000 (Tanjug 2 May 1993; Ibid. 3 Aug. 1993; Ibid. 12 Oct. 1993). The estimated number of these refugees who are Serbian is about 500,000 (Tanjug 2 May 1993; Vreme 17 May 1993). Serbian Prime Minister Nikola Sainovic reportedly stated that Serbia would "always unselfishly provide shelter to the wounded, refugees, and all threatened persons from former Bosnia-Herzegovina..." (Tanjug Domestic Service 6 May 1993). While most of the refugees have found accommodation with friends, family or volunteer hosts (Le Point 30 July 1993), one report claims that "[t]he former magnanimity of the hosts, under pressure of increasingly difficult life because of the economic embargo, faded away long ago" (Vreme 17 May 1993). Some Serbs who fled Bosnia and Croatia before their regions became embroiled in the war managed to trade houses, flats and farms with Croats wishing to leave Serbia (Ibid.).
All refugees in Serbia are required to register with the Office of the Serbian Republic's Commissioner for Refugees (Borba 27 Apr. 1993). Serbs from outside Serbia who are not registered are reportedly worried about being deported (Ibid.). A report on RTB Television claimed that the refugees would be required to go to a refugee centre to apply for refugee status, and after doing so would be unable to change their place of temporary residence without approval from the Commissioner's Office (22 May 1993).
While information specific to refugees in Belgrade is currently unavailable to the DIRB, the following information on the distribution plan for refugees may be of interest to you. In an interview in May 1993, Minister of Relations with Serbs Outside Serbia, Bogoljub Bjelica, reportedly stated that a key goal was to distribute the refugees more uniformly, "because there is no valid justification for having them most concentrated in the big cities" (Borba 27 Apr. 1993). The minister further stated that "[t]here is no doubt that refugees should be given adequate care, but at the same time individual abuses have to be prevented, which could give the public a negative picture of all the refugees" (Ibid.).
A more recent Tanjug report claims that the number of refugees in Serbia is slowly declining (12 Oct. 1993). The report further states that most of the refugees are returning to the self proclaimed Serbian Republic (the Srpska or RS) in Bosnia-Herzegovina and that discussions are taking place between leaders from Serbia, the RS and the Republic of Serb Krajina (RSK) on "concrete aid and measures to be taken towards a speedy return of refugees to their respective homes in the R.S. and in ... the R.S.K." (Ibid.).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Borba [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 27 April 1993. "Minister on Status of Refugees in Serbia." (FBIS-EEU-93-095 19 May 1993, pp. 58-59).
Le Point. 30 July 1993. "Ex-Yougoslavie : la guerre vue de Serbie."
RTB Television Network [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 22 May 1993. "Refugee Office Implements 'More Precise' Law." (FBIS-EEU-93-098 24 May 1993, pp. 59-60)
Tanjug [Belgrade, in English]. 12 October 1993. "Number of Refugees in Serbia on Decline." (FBIS-EEU-93-197 14 Oct. 1993, pp. 41-42)
. 3 August 1993. "Part of Urban Population on Brink of Starvation." (FBIS-EEU-93-148 4 Aug. 1993, p. 54)
. 2 May 1993. "Over Half of Serbia's Refugees Come From Bosnia." (FBIS-EEU-93-083 3 May 1993, pp. 57-58)
Tanjug Domestic Service [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 6 May 1993. "Government Announces Curtailment of Assistance." (FBIS-EEU-93-087 7 May 1993, p. 42)
Vreme [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 17 May 1993. Filip Svarm. "Serbo-Croatian Refugees Manipulated, Disliked." (FBIS-EEU-93-113 15 June 1993, pp. 57-58)
Attachments
Borba [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 27 April 1993. "Minister on Status of Refugees." (FBIS-EEU-93-095 19 May 1993, pp. 58-59).
Le Point. 30 July 1993. "Ex-Yougoslavie : la guerre vue de Serbie."
RTB Television Network [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 22 May 1993. "Refugee Office Implements 'More Precise' Law." (FBIS-EEU-93-098 24 May 1993, pp. 59-60)
Tanjug [Belgrade, in English]. 12 October 1993. "Number of Refugees in Serbia on Decline." (FBIS-EEU-93-197 14 Oct. 1993, pp. 41-42)
. 3 August 1993. "Part of Urban Population on Brink of Starvation." (FBIS-EEU-93-148 4 Aug. 1993, p. 54)
. 2 May 1993. "Over Half of Serbia's Refugees Come From Bosnia." (FBIS-EEU-93-083 3 May 1993, pp. 57-58)
Tanjug Domestic Service [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 6 May 1993. "Government Announces Curtailment of Assistance." (FBIS-EEU-93-087 7 May 1993, p. 42)
Vreme [Belgrade, in Serbo-Croatian]. 17 May 1993. Filip Svarm. "Serbo-Croatian Refugees Manipulated, Disliked." (FBIS-EEU-93-113 15 June 1993, pp. 57-58)
