Kosovo Ombudsperson Urges against the Return of Roma, Ashkaelia and Egyptians to the Province

29 July 2004

On May 18, 2004, Mr Marek Antoni Nowicki, the Ombudsperson in Kosovo, sent a letter of concern to government authorities in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, strongly advising against the return of Roma, Ashkaeli and Egyptian asylum seekers to Kosovo. Mr Nowicki sent the letter after having received information that the aforementioned countries intend to return a sizable number of Romani, Ashkaeli and Egyptian asylum seekers to Kosovo. In his letter, Mr Nowicki stressed that Roma,Ashkaelia and Egyptians continue to face "considerable risks to their personal safety" in Kosovo, particularly after the pogroms of March 17-20, 2004, and stressed that the return of Romani, Ashkaeli and Egyptian asylum seekers would violate international human rights standards. (ERRC)