Migracijske i etničke teme (Dec 2005)
Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Montenegro – A Durable Solution
Abstract
For over a decade the issues of refugees and internally displaced persons in Montenegro have been very imminent. This paper reviews the current situation in Montenegro, in regard to the number and socio-economic status of refugees and internally displaced persons, with special emphasis on the Roma, internal displacees from Kosovo, who due to their low education level and the language barrier are seen as the most vulnerable population. In addition to concrete data on the living standards of the mentioned groups, special attention is given to the interrelationship between displacees on the one hand, and the domicile population and the local government, on the other. The paper presents the results of qualitative surveys carried out on representative sample of displacees and representatives of local communities, as well as among competent representatives of local governments. These results confirm that in everyday life people disregard politics and history and focus on issues of survival. Furthermore, the paper presents the solutions proposed by the Strategy for durable solutions of the issues of refugees and internally displaced persons in Montenegro, the implementation of which, within the next 1000 days, in the context of overall regional events and activities, predicts the closing of “refugee files” in Montenegro.
