A fact-finding mission organised by the Council of Europe, on the situation of the Roma/Gypsies in Bosnia-Herzegovina took place from 15 to 21 May 1996. The mission was organised in accordance with the decision taken by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. The team was composed of the President of the Specialist Group on Roma/Gypsies, the Co-President of the latter Group, one representative of an association of Roma/Gypsy refugees from Bosnia-Herzegovina (based in Germany), the Co-ordinator of the Contact Point on Roma and Sinti Issues of the OSCE/ODIHR and of two members of the Secretariat. On the basis of information provided by non-governmental organisations and refugees organisations, the team decided to visit the areas which had large Roma/Gypsy communities before the war. It travelled to Sarajevo, Tuzla, Bjeljina and Banja-Luka, in order to meet with Roma/Gypsy people, governmental and local authorities, international agencies acting in the field (UNHCR, OSCE, UN Human Rights Centre) and other organisations. As a result of enquiries made, the group formulated its opinion that it is not yet time to return any refugees and displaced persons from third countries to Bosnia-Herzegovina., and that no return should be planned in areas where the returnees would not belong to the majority population. This is especially the case in the Republic Sprska were the team felt no security of the returnees would be ensured, because of the instability of the political situation and the still dominating atmosphere of ethnic cleansing. Roma returning to the Federation would raise less interethnic problems but it is also not advisable - in view of the massive destruction’s, the huge amount of internally displaced persons whose fate is not yet secure and the lack of plans and preparation to make the resettlement of the displaced persons and refugees operational. It could create additional problems in places already overwhelmed with internally displaced persons and could lead to further instability and tensions, in particular in Aattractive places such as Sarajevo and Tuzla where a relatively multicultural atmosphere still prevails. It appeared also that neither the local authorities nor the Ministry for Refugees are prepared to face the enormous problems resulting from the inflows of internally displaced persons, such as re-housing, setting up of basic infrastructures, job creation, return of properties and goods, etc. The group recommended that both entities of the Republic recognise Roma as a national minority along the lines of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities. This would provide some guarantees compensating for the lack of protection by one of the three main communities. In addition it would support the recognition of their basic rights and foster selforganisation and self-confidence of the Romany community. OSCE ODIHR Bulletin Vol. 4 No. 3 35