Roma Virtual Network: press release on the visit of human rights commissioner Thomas Hammarberg to Kosovo

Commissioner Hammarberg visits Kosovo to assess the situation of forced returnees

Strasbourg, 10.02.2010 - Several European governments are forcibly returning to Kosovo persons who have found shelter in their countries. To assess the
situation, Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, visits Kosovo from 11 to 13 February.

According to UN statistics more than 2 500 persons have been returned from European countries during 2009, mainly from Austria, Germany, Sweden and
Switzerland.

Among them are some Roma, who have ended up in the lead-contaminated camps of Cesmin Lug and Osterode in northern Mitrovica, where inhabitants have
already suffered serious illnesses. The Commissioner will visit these two camps that he already in his report of July 2009 recommended to be closed. He also urged that adequate housing be offered to all families affected, together with courses of decontamination treatment.

A press conference is due to take place on Friday 12 at 11.30 a.m. in the press conference room at the premises of the OSCE in Pristina.