On its meeting held on August 19, 1995 the presidency of the Democratic Community of the Hungarians in Vojvodina discussed the situation of the Serbian refugees from Croatia and the situation of Hungarians in this respect.

The presidency has stated that the moving out of the Serbs from Croatia is such a humanitarian catastrophe that concerns not only the refugees themselves, but the population of Serbia, among them the Hungarians of Vojvodina.

Half of the refugees, about eighty thousand people have come and stayed in Vojvodina. Together with those who came at the beginning of this war, today there are about 150.000 Serbian refugees waiting for their living conditions to be solved.

The Serbian authorities want to solve the problem of the refugees by permanently settling them down.

The problem of the Hungarians of Vojvodina is still open and unsolved, and the new colonisation has become a newly arisen problem. Therefore it is natural that the Hungarians ere becoming more and more warried about the new events. The present difficult situation might be solved by an agreement between Hungary and Yugoslavia, that is Serbia, by taking into account the aspiration for minority autonomy of the Hungarians of Vojvodina.

Unfortunately, the representatives of the Serbian authorities openly propagate the idea that the minorities, among them the Hungarians also, should accept the colonisation.

One problem should not result in two. By the aggressive or artificial change of the ethnic composition of the communities with Hungarian majority in Vojvodina, the Serbian authorities would not only trespass the valid international documents, but would also cause the danger of persecution of Hungarians from Vojvodina. To be more precise, if the authorities settle the Serb refugees, who have suffered greatly but many of whom possess guns, in the communities with Hungarian majority, the increase of ethnic tensions might urge the unarmed Hungarians to flee.

Despite the fact that the Hungarians of Vojvodina are less in number and live with not more than the basic necessities, they are helping the refugees. But in accordance with the international documents, they are against the forced or artificial upset of the ethnic balance of the communities with Hungarian majority.

In a situation like this, the Democratic Community of the Hungarians of Vojvodina has significant tasks:

1. The bodies, councillors and the representatives of the Democratic Community of the Hungarians of Vojvodina are in constant contacts with the endangered, and their mere political presence may influence the authorities to keep their promise, which means, that the citizens' rights must not be violated and their properties must not be damaged. The Democratic Community of the Hungarians of Vojvodina opposes the preparation for, beginning and accomplishment of colonisation carried out by local government bodies or individuals together with the authorities under the cover of humanitarian activities, which would upset the ethnic balance of the communities with Hungarian majority.

In accordance with the above stated, the Democratic Community of the Hungarians of Vojvodina suggests that the Hungarian officials should not take part in the real estate registration directed by the Serbian Socialist Party, and the intimidation of the Hungarian citizens when being convinced to "voluntarily" place their vacant houses or parts of their houses at the disposal of the refugees.

2. In order to avoid colonisation, the Democratic Community of the Hungarians of Vojvodina intends to do its best in keeping good contacts with the Serbian authorities.

In compliance with the new situation, the Democratic Community of the Hungarians of Vojvodina suggests that, taking into consideration the autonomy aspirations, the Yugoslav, and the Serbian authorities start negotiations with Hungary with the aim of solving the open problem of the Hungarians of Vojvodina.

3. With its international connections, the Democratic Community of the Hungarians of Vojvodina will try to obtain financial support for the refugees, so that the settling of their matter will not artificially or violently upset the ethnical balance of the communities with Hungarian majority.

The presidency of the DCHV

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REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

Government of the Republic of Serbia

Dated on August 14, 1995

Belgrade

TO THE HEAD OF THE DISTRICT OF ..........

Concerning the solution for long term accommodation of the refugees from the Republic of Serbian Krajina, it is necessary to obtain the data on the number of vacant houses and flats, (which have not been used for years) by the assistance of the presidents of the Municipal Assemblies, or in any other way. It is also necessary to collect the data by talks with the owners about the temporary giving up of the houses and flats to the refugees from the Republic of the Serbian Krajina. In order to implement this task we suggest urgent meeting of the presidents of the Municipal Assemblies.

This task should be completed by August 19, 1995.

Minister in charge of the refugees,

Andreja Milosavljević

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REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF VOJVODINA

Municipality: ....

Municipal Headquarters for the ....

Reception of Refugees

No.: official, dated on August 9, 1995

At the joint meeting of the Executive Committee of the Municipal Assembly, the Municipal Headquarters for the Reception of Refugees, the representatives of Local Communities, the Municipal Council of the Trade Union, the Municipal Organization of the Red Cross, the Centre for Public Welfare, the present situation concerning the reception and accommodation of refugees from the Republic of Serbian Krajina has been discussed, as well as the collection of aid for the needs of the refugees on the territory of the municipality of ....

Concerning the above stated, the following

CONCLUSIONS

have been passed:

l. On the territory of all the Local Communities of the municipality of..., all the vacant houses and flats should be registered, in order to place them to the disposal of the refugees from the Republic of Serbian Krajina for a certain time.

2. The vacant houses and flats should be given up to the refugees in accordance with the approval of the owners of houses and flats.

If no contact can be made with the owners of the houses and flats, a committee will be formed in the Local Community which will establish the present statement of facts and give permission for the usage of the vacant houses and flats, as well as fix the conditions of their disposal. A written decision of the committee is necessary on all the rented houses and flats.

President of the Executive Committee

of the Municipal Headquarters

for the reception of refugees