OSCE MISSION WELCOMES CHANGES TO ELECTION LAW

ZAGREB, April 3 (Hina) - The head of the OSCE Mission to Croatia, Peter Semneby, has welcomed the parliament's adopting changes to the election law, which grant Croatian minorities more just representation, the OSCE stated on Thursday. #L# The mission head at the same time called for the immediate application of other parts of the election law. The adoption of the election law and the appointment of a new, five- member state Council for National Minorities are positive steps in the implementation of the Constitutional Law on Minority Rights, Semneby said in the statement. He also stated that the new law provided for better representation of the Serb and other minorities who previously had not been represented in parliament, including the Albanian and Romany minorities. The mission head called on the authorities to take more decisive steps in implementing other segments of the new minority law. The adoption of the constitutional law on national minorities last December was an important step forward, Semneby said, adding that its timely implementation was instrumental in ensuring minority rights in the country. The government should now draw up plans to ensure minority representation in the state administration and judiciary, Semneby said. (hina) rml sb