Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that efforts have been made that would enable persons displaced from their homes, villages and farms during the conflict in Kosovo to return; his views on the fact that international agencies are regarded as not having exercised sufficient efforts to achieve this aim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16836/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's position on the Kosovo final status issue, along with our partners in the EU, has been that a final settlement for Kosovo must provide for a multi-ethnic, secure and democratic Kosovo, consistent with EU values and standards and contributing to the stability of the region. The EU has consistently highlighted the protection of minorities, and the right to return of refugees and internally displaced persons, as key priorities in this context.

Ireland has been strongly supportive of the proposal by the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy on Kosovo, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, which provided for internationally supervised independence for Kosovo with strong guarantees for the rights of Serbs and other minorities. His proposal specifically included provisions on the rights to return of refugees and internally displaced persons and stated that they shall have the right to return and reclaim their property and personal possessions based upon a voluntary and informed decision. The Government, through Irish Aid, has been pleased to contribute to return projects in Kosovo in recent years.

As part of the gradual transfer of competences from the interim UN Administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) to the Provisional Institutions of Self Government (PISG), provided for under UN Security Council Resolution 1244, most of the functional responsibilities for voluntary returns have now been assumed by the PISG, primarily the Ministry of Community and Return (MCR). However, UNMIK continues to provide assistance and guidance to the MCR as appropriate. In a report dated 28 March 2008, UNMIK noted that while slightly more internally displaced persons (IDPs) returned to Kosovo in 2007 than in 2006, the number of returns remain disappointingly low. The report notes that the UNHCR estimates that 1, 756 minority community members returned in 2007 as opposed to 1, 668 in 2006. In addition 19 Roma families returned to Abdullah Presheva/Abduallh Presevo (Gjilan/Gnjilane) on 26 February 2008 under a UNDP project financed by the Kosovo Consolidated Budget.

The report adds that the Ministry of Communities and Returns (MCR) budget for returns is €7.14 million for 2008, an increase from €5.2 million in 2007. The Ministry has proposed to allocate this amount for Community Development and Stabilization projects, construction of social housing for IDPs, organised return projects and individual returns.

The Report identified a number of challenges ahead including that, with UNHCR's support, the MCR has achieved progress towards the finalisation of the returnee database but progress is still needed in establishing the IDP database.

The Kosovo Assembly declared independence on 17 February and stated that it accepted fully the obligations for Kosovo contained in the Ahtisaari proposal and undertook to implement the obligations through priority adoption of legislation, particularly those that protect and promote the rights of communities and their members. In addition to this, the Constitution, adopted by the Kosovo Assembly on 9 April, states that the Republic of Kosovo shall promote and facilitate the safe and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced persons and assist them in recovering their property and possessions.

The Government strongly believes that a comprehensive policy on the right to return must form an integral part of the governance of Kosovo and be integrated into Kosovo's future legal framework. In my letter to President Sedjiu of Kosovo of 28 February informing him that the Government had decided to recognise Kosovo, I welcomed the clear commitment of Kosovo to the full implementation of all obligations contained in the Ahtisaari proposal. I welcome now that specific provisions for the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons have been incorporated into the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo and I urge the Kosovo authorities to pursue concrete and rapid progress on these important issues.