An official at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Ottawa told the Research Directorate the following: Croats who were born in and are citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina are entitled to live in Croatia and become Croatian citizens; such persons are not obliged to renounce their citizenship in Bosnia-Herzegovina in order to exercise those rights (9 Dec. 1999). The official added that all persons of Croatian nationality, wherever they live in the world and wherever they were born, are entitled under Croatian law to become Croatian citizens (ibid.). The official also stated that possession of a valid Croatian passport confers the right to live in Croatia (ibid.).

A representative of the Repatriation Information Centre (RIC) in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, stated that according to article 1 of Croatia's Law on Passports, a person who holds a Croatian passport is a citizen of Croatia (9 Dec. 1999). The representative also stated that

according to Article 16 of the Law on Croatian Citizenship, a person without domicile in the Republic of Croatia who is a member of the Croatian Nation can obtain Croatian citizenship.

Croatian law requires to renounce citizenship. However, in practice, this is not applied. There are instances where Bosnian citizens of Croat origin obtained Croatian citizenship within two weeks.

The Ministry of Interior may grant citizenship to a person who does not fulfil legal prerequisites if there is a particular interest for Croatia. As a practice, citizenship is quickly granted (ibid.).

The RIC is an organization affiliated with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) which operates in Bosnia-Herzegovina with funding in part from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina (RIC 24 Nov. 1999). RIC describes itself in its Internet website as

a comprehensive clearinghouse for information related to all aspects of repatriation and return movements of refugees and displaced persons within and to Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of facilitating the decision-making process of relevant and interested institutions, organisations and individuals, both inside and outside Bosnia and Herzegovina (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Embassy of the Republic of Croatia, Ottawa. 9 December 1999. Telephone interview with an official.

Repatriation Information Centre, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. 9 December 1999. Correspondence.

_____. 24 November 1999 [Last modified]. "Information About RIC." http://www.ric.com.ba/main/about.htm [Accessed 9 Dec. 1999]