Refugees from Kosovo Trapped in Montenegro

At least 60 families, some 300 people in all, from the Pec, Djakovica, Klina and Istok areas in Kosovo remain stuck in Montenegro and are unable to go home, a government report says. Most of these families reside in the Konik camp.

But to go home they need active help from the Kosovo authorities, the report adds.

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

But the final agreement has not been signed, although Kosovo's Ministry for Returns in October 2011 promised it would be signed soon.

The report states that "realization of this measure depends directly on the political willingness of the Government of Kosovo".

Currently, Montenegro hosts around 17,000 people who came to the country following the break-up of Yugoslavia.

About 2,700 persons who sought refuge in Montenegro from wars in Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo during the Nineties have voluntarily returned since 2005.

Although commonly referred to as refugees, they have the status of “displaced” or “internally displaced persons”.

The government adopted the report on the implementation of a strategy for a durable solution regarding displaced and internally displaced persons in Montenegro, with special emphasis on Konik camp, on March 8.

The report also highlights the lack of available land and housing solutions as further limitations to the sustainable voluntary return of people to Kosovo.