ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament began its session Friday with a debate on a final text of a government-sponsored bill on asylum, one of a set of laws Croatia is obliged to pass under the Stabilisation and Association
Agreement with the EU.
ZAGREB, May 16 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament began its session
Friday with a debate on a final text of a government-sponsored bill
on asylum, one of a set of laws Croatia is obliged to pass under the
Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. #L#
Deputy Interior Minister Josip Vresk informed MPs that the law
envisaged principles of preventing permanent banning or sending
foreign citizens back to the countries in which their lives or
freedom could be in jeopardy because of their race, religion,
nationality or political ideology.
Only persons who are not being persecuted for crime may seek asylum
at the interior ministry headquarters. A government commission
would approve or reject the request.
Foreign citizens seeking asylum have the right to residence,
education, religious education of children, food, medical care and
financial assistance and are obliged to abide by the Croatian
Constitution and laws and decisions of competent bodies.
They must follow the interior ministry's instructions -- take
telephone calls, be identified, stick to movement restriction
measures, etc.
Temporary protection, such as international aid, would be provided
to foreign citizens for six months with the possibility of
extending this period to not more than three years.
Croatia is obliged to construct shelters and provide funds for
asylum seekers. Vresk believes that around four million kuna
(EUR526,000) per year should be set aside for asylees, but the final
amount would depend on their numbers.
(hina) lml sb