ROUND TABLE ON CONST. LAW ON NATIONAL MINORITIES HELD IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, March 11 (Hina) - Representatives of the Croatian state and local authorities, non-governmental organisations and the Council of Europe on Tuesday held a round-table conference on the Croatian Constitutional Law on the Rights of National Minorities and its application. #L# "The new law, adopted last December, was adjusted to international standards and expands existing minority rights," said a vice- premier, Ante Simonic. Croatia is one of only three countries in the world which guarantee under law minority representation in parliament, he said. Simonic said that 20 million kuna (EUR2.6 million) for the realisation of minority programmes had been set aside from this year's budget, 10% more than last year. Stephanie Marshall of the Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities Secretariat said that the Constitutional Law was progress, but its implementation should be closely monitored. The participation of minorities in representation bodies at the local and national levels is crucial for the application of the law and Framework Convention, which Croatia joined in 1997, Marshall said. The round-table was organised by the government's Office for National Minorities and the Council of Europe. It was also attended by minority MPs and representatives of some two dozen national minority associations and human rights NGOs. (hina) lml