OSCE PROGRESS REPORT FOR CROATIA MORE POSITIVE (PART II)

Refugee return remains the Mission's overriding concern. "We have seen progress on the legislative and administrative framework for return, but practical implementation still remains slow. Regarding property possession, we have not seen an increase in the pace of return of occupied housing, due in significant part to the policy choices reflected in the applicable legislation," Semneby said. The OSCE Mission is preparing, in cooperation with the government, a public campaign on reconciliation and sustainable return, so the welcoming message can reach all those who plan to return and help them make such a decision, the mission chief said. "Government efforts on property reconstruction have been advancing well, with the number of Serb beneficiaries receiving reconstruction assistance being substantially increased. It is significant that the authorities have recognised that the issue of housing for former occupancy/tenancy rights must be addressed. The programme must, however, be judged on the basis of implementation." Minority rights are closely related to the return issue, since most of Croatia's minority population is still outside the country, Semneby says in the report. "The adoption in December 2002 of a Constitutional Law on the Rights of National Minorities strengthened the minority rights regime in Croatia," he said and stressed partial implementation of the requirement to seat additional minority representatives in elected local and regional councils and to hold elections for new national minority councils. Commenting on the government's judicial reform, the OSCE Mission chief says significant effects of the reform measures are not yet visible, because judicial proceedings continue to be characterised by widespread and excessive delays and lack of execution of final verdicts. Semneby also says that Croatia's technical cooperation with the Hague Tribunal has improved. "The judicial handling of war crimes remains difficult, but important efforts are being made to review questionable charges and to enable the domestic judiciary to process war crimes charges in a fair way. Full co-operation with the ICTY remains a key condition for Croatia in its Euro-Atlantic integration efforts." The reform of media-related legislation was advanced in February with the adoption of the new Law on Croatian Radio-Television, the mission chief says, adding that the procedure for the appointment of the HRT's Council was noted as being potentially problematic. Croatian Television has generally freed itself of political bias but pays little attention to issues such as refugee return and minority rights, reads the report. It also notes progress in police reform and urges the Croatian government to support non-governmental organisations. Semneby says efforts should be invested to ensure the effective implementation of the programmes and legislation that have been adopted. Asked to comment on the stand of some Croatian politicians that the political will for the return of refugees was not questionable, but that Croatia lacked funds as it was left to finance the entire return and reconstruction programme on its own, Semneby said the refugee return had to be considered a strategic issue of Croatia's policy and not an obligation towards the international community. (hina) it sb