origin, i.e. nationality, in order to obtain valid Croatian documents, including national passports. These documents were required in order to apply for the status of foreigner with temporary or permanent stay residence in Montenegro, and will subsequently be necessary in order to naturalize. Following a request from the Government of Montenegro and UNHCR, Croatian diplomatic-consular services have shown flexibility in extending services to this category of (former) refugees. As of 31 December 2017, 14 refugees from Croatia held the status of displaced persons, as their applications for status of foreigner were still pending, while 997 had been granted the status of foreigner with permanent residence, and 11 the status of foreigner with temporary residence (valid for three years). Further to this, 14 applications for the permanently residing foreigner status have remained pending for more than two years and a half. It remains UNHCR’s position that long-staying recognized refugees from Croatia and/or those on a pathway to citizenship should retain their refugee status pending their transition to a permanent residency status or citizenship. UNHCR recommends that the Government of Montenegro grants facilitated access to permanent residence to all former refugees from Croatia. UNHCR recommends that Montenegro provide further support for socially vulnerable persons among former refugees to help resolve their housing needs and to ensure effective access to health and social protection. Montenegro is also encouraged to ensure that children born to parents who obtained Foreigner Status similarly obtain a facilitated permanent residence status in Montenegro. In February 2017, the Strategy for Durable Solutions of Issues regarding Displaced and Internally Displaced Persons in Montenegro, with Special Emphasis on the Konik Area was extended for the period 2017 - 2019. The Government of Montenegro and UNHCR included the remaining unresolved obstacles faced by the refugees from former Yugoslavia in their pursuit for local integration. Subsequently, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare was again tasked to coordinate the strategy’s implementation. The Strategy and the 2017 Action Plan for its implementation were drafted in close cooperation with UNHCR. Serbia: De-registration of refugees on the basis of acquisition of Serbian nationality has slowed down during the reporting period. In the past, this accounted for the greatest decline in the number of refugees from Croatia. However, as there are refugees from Croatia who have acquired a Serbian citizenship certificate, but who have yet to acquire an identity card as citizens, the factual number of refugees is likely to be even lower. The refugee identity card is withdrawn and refugee status formally ceased only once the individual concerned acquires or seeks to acquire an identity card as a citizen. In order to provide conditions for local integration for all who opt for this solution, the Government has adopted a comprehensive policy and legal framework for providing support 17