MESIC MEETS OFFICIALS OF HUMAN RIGHTS CENTRE

ZAGREB, Feb 25 (Hina) - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Tuesday met the head of the Croatia Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Office in Geneva, Ekkehard Strauss, and Human Rights Centre coordinator Tin Gazivoda. #L# The President's Office reported that the delegation informed Mesic that the centre was being established as part of cooperation between the Croatian government and the Office of the U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights. The Office ended its mission in Croatia at the end of 2002 and the newly-established Human Rights Centre will take over the task of assisting civil associations dealing with human rights in Croatia. It will organise round table discussions and participate in drawing up reports on the human rights situation, which Croatia is bound to draw up by its international commitments. Coordinator Tin Gazivoda commended the president's strong support for human rights activities, describing him as one of the guarantors of the progress of human rights in Croatia. Attending the meeting at President Mesic's side was his advisor on internal relations, Igor Dekanic. (hina) rml