ZAGREB, Feb 20 (Hina) - The Ethnic Minorities Council said on Friday that over the past four years Croatia had made numerous positive steps in exercising the rights of national minorities, particularly in the legislative part. The
council also hailed the government's decision to increase budgetary funds for financing minority associations and institutions.
ZAGREB, Feb 20 (Hina) - The Ethnic Minorities Council said on Friday
that over the past four years Croatia had made numerous positive steps
in exercising the rights of national minorities, particularly in the
legislative part. The council also hailed the government's decision to
increase budgetary funds for financing minority associations and
institutions.#L#
The chairman of the council, Aleksandar Tolnauer, said that this year
the government would submit a four-year report on the situation of
national minorities to a competent committee of the Council of Europe
The report will include the assessment of the situation of the
national minorities which the council adopted on Friday.
At the session, the council positively assessed the four-year period
and particularly hailed the adoption of the law on the use of national
minority languages and education in those languages and the
constitutional law on the rights of national minorities.
The council said that the implementation of the said laws was slow,
adding, however, that there was a political will and that the law was
being implemented to the highest possible extent.
The Council called on the competent ministries to create frameworks
for the proportional representation of minorities in state services
and the judicial authority, as well as in local and regional
government.
Representatives of the Council hailed the government proposal to
earmark close to 24 million kuna for minorities which is 10 percent
more than last year.
The Council's deputy head, Sinisa Tatalovic reported on changed
criteria for the division of funds for minority associations and
institutions, stressing that more funds would be earmarked for the
financing of publishing activities and cultural events.
Also opened was a possibility of co-financing local media with an aim
to enable the minorities to have a better access to the media, and
encourage the production of specialised shows in the languages of
minorities.
The Council also debated on the causes of a poor turnout at the recent
repeated elections for councils and representatives of national
minorities in the units of local self-government.
The council will draw up an analysis of the elections, on the basis of
which it will move necessary amendments to relevant laws.
(Hina) it sb